N.: Could you tell us a little bit about yourself?
A.D.: I'm 32 years old. I’m from Mallorca and I came to study in Barcelona 14 years ago. In 2012 I started Ölend, an urban backpack brand, with my partner Fran. A few years ago we also launched Les Marées, a line of clothing and leather bags. Now, in addition to handling the creative direction for these two brands, I’m also a university professor. I have a dog that comes everywhere with me, and I love rollerskating.
N.: Ölend y Les Marées… What inspired you to become a fashion/accessories designer? Was it something you always wanted to be, or did you casually evolve into this profession?
A.D.: Ever since I was a little girl, I’ve loved making my own clothes. At the beginning, I used a sewing machine and then later I was given a sewing machine and my grandmother taught me to use it. I studied audiovisual communication, and for the first few years after getting my degree I did artistic direction and wardrobe. In 2012, Fran and I signed up for a course on backpack making, and that’s where it all started. Our friends began asking us to make backpacks for them, and then it was friends of friends, and we started to grow through social networks.