Burst magazine, Spring 2006, Pg. 70 & 71

DEDICATED FOLLOWER
OF FASHION

Since breaking out on his own, 28 year-old fashion designer Oscar Calvo has poured everything he has into realising his dream of creating his own fashion label – even his sleep!

Oscar Calvo is tired. Not ‘stayed up to late to watch the World Cup’ tired that many of us have recently experienced, but the kind of exhaustion that comes from working 40 hours Monday to Friday before going home to work well past midnight on your self-funded menwear fashion label.

“It’s so hard sometimes to keep positive and ambitious when I look and feel like crap!”

However despite the long hours and the inevitable bags under the eyes, Oscar’s enthusiasm and determination means that he refuses to give up, even when the going gets tough. He says to succeed you have to keep your eye on the ball and believe in yourself.

“You’ve got to stay motivated, focused and not loose sight of your dream,” Oscar says.

“Things will fall into place if you work hard.”

And working hard is something Oscar is very familiar with. Throughout the years, he has developed a solid foundation of retail and customer service experience working as an area Manager for a top Melbourne race wear specialist. It was there that Oscar got to know first-hand the nature and demands of the Australian fashion industry.

At 25 he left his job and launched the ‘Oscar Calvo’ fashion label. Operating out of Melbourne, Oscar runs the whole show.

“I’m responsible for all areas of the business from design to sales to marketing but what I like most about having my own label is being surrounded by talented, creative people. It’s a network and I’m always meeting people in all areas of the arts.”

“Gaultier has been a major influence on me. His clothing has been influenced by global costume, both old and new. My spring/summer 2005/06 collection draws a lot from his macho sailor cliché. I love Gaultier’s humorous, eclectic challenge to men’s fashion.”

Despite all the hard work, Oscar says it can be done. “you have to stay focus and motivated and not loose sight of your dream. Things fall into place if you work hard.”

And he should know with the Oscar Calvo label making a big impression on the Australian fashion industry. Last year, Oscar was invited to take part in the inaugural Fashion at Fed Square event. Oscar’s colourful, 1970’s inspired tailored street-wear caused a splash, earning him the ‘Designer of the Year’ award. He was also selected to be a part of Stylefile, a website that promotes Australian products to international buyers, distributors, manufacturers and retailers.

With no lack of inspiration and already securing top-end boutiques to stock his pieces Oscar Calvo is one designer to keep an eye on it that not too distant future.