MIAMI, United States. – Born in Cuba in the 1970s, Jóse Benedí has become a recognized name in the world of international fashion. The Cuban grew up immersed in the textile industry, thanks to his family that had businesses in this sector.
“I grew up among fabrics from the 50s, old international fashion magazines with yellowed prints of dresses and furs”, explains on its official website.
From an early age, Benedí showed a fascination for fashion and design. “At the age of six I tore my mother’s favorite dress to pieces, only to find out how it was made. Of course, I sewed it again”, the designer also recalls.
Although Design was not recognized as a career in Cuba when he finished his high school studies, Benedí found ways to explore his passion. “I decided to cut my suitcase to go to school to make leather pockets for pants that seemed boring to me,” he confessed in an interview. His background in biology has also influenced his work, with anatomy and plant forms present in his designs.
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Benedí began his career designing custom clothing, bespoke and requested by his clients. For seven years, he was a designer for La Maison, the most prestigious fashion house in Havana. His career took a leap when he was among the finalists of the Italian contest Mittelmoda, an international contest to which he was encouraged to participate by Pedro Contreras, graphic designer and curator.
Since then, Benedí has worked to overcome national barriers. In 1999, she moved to London to study Fashion and in 2002 she moved to Germany, specifically to the city of Hamburg, with which she fell in love. In Germany, Benedí is considered “a quality reference”, according to an interview with the German newspaper D.W..
In 2005, Benedí launched his brand Bénédí and won the biggest annual fashion award in Düsseldorf, at one of the most prestigious events in Europe. Since then, her designs have been worn by celebrities like Ivana Trump and Angelina Jolie. In addition, he won first prize from the jury at the New Faces Award and was chosen as best designer in the Red Carpet category at the MTV Fashion Awards.
Benedí’s creations are a fusion of politics, religion and the spirit of the times. “In this complicated world, women are strong, they assert themselves and assert themselves. For this reason, my creations combine both elements: on the one hand, cloudy colors; on the other, a clean cut”, explained the designer.
This innovative and gender-blind approach can be seen in her work with her friend Jorge González, a model, stylist, choreographer and actor, whom she dressed for the “Let’s Dance” contest.
