Meritxell González was born in Andorra and trained in design and pattern making in Barcelona. When she came on vacation to Lanzarote seven years ago, she was captivated by the contrast of landscapes on the island and moved to live there a few months later.
In an interview with Ekonomus, González explains how the colors of Lanzarote inspire her collections and highlights the sweet moment that sustainable fashion is experiencing now that there is more awareness of the damage caused by the huge amount of clothing that is discarded every day.
- How did you get to Lanzarote?
Almost seven years ago I came on vacation, in March, and I liked the contrast of landscapes so much that I felt I had to return. Six months later I was living here, I left everything and came.
- Does Lanzarote inspire your collections?
Of course. That contrast of landscapes, of colors, its land and its volcanoes... inspire me a lot to make my garments. I work a lot with earth color palettes and I am also a lover of minerals and rocks.
- How is sustainability reflected in your garments?
In several ways. First, I make limited edition collections. Also, I take care of the entire process, design, pattern making, cutting and sewing, so there is no distribution logistics behind it.
On the other hand, there is a reuse of waste. I always try to make exclusive garments with the fabric scraps resulting from the pattern cuts. I mainly use natural fabrics such as linen and cotton.
In December I obtained the sustainable company certificate through Proexca.
- How were you trained?
I trained in Barcelona between 2006 and 2010. First I studied fashion design and then I specialized in industrial pattern making and elastic fabrics. I worked for six months for a designer as a pattern maker and then I covered a maternity leave for Victorio & Lucchino's second brand.
“The planet can't take it anymore, it's becoming a clothing dump”
- Do you also teach classes?
Yes, I love teaching pattern making and sewing and that people value the making, how clothes are made and that everyone can make their own alterations and recycle their garments. To give value to sewing from learning, and not from consumerism, as companies do that no longer make fast fashion, but ultra-fast fashion.
- What are your workshops specifically about?
I teach creative sewing, survival sewing, custom pattern making and also monographic courses. For example, I recently gave one on recycling jeans.
- Migongo is an acronym of your name, but does it have more interpretations?
Yes, it comes from Meritxel González Gómez, but I also interpret it as a gong, whose vibration is different with each strike, because we never hit it with the same intensity.
The vibration of the gong envelops you with peace and joy. I like to think that my garments also provide that sensation by being personal, unique and timeless.
- Where are your main clients from?
Before coming to Lanzarote I traveled around Europe and sold mainly at music, circus, theater, yoga festivals... Here I sell locally mainly to Spaniards, Germans, French and Italians.
- What new features are you planning for your future collections?
Thanks to a subsidy from the Government of the Canary Islands, I was able to buy a triple drag machine to recycle thicker materials such as neoprene, leather, upholstery scraps...
- How are your pieces received by the public?
They tell me that they feel very unique, they are surprised that they are exclusive pieces. People freak out, they are so used to buying clothes from big brands that they can't quite believe that I could have done everything myself.
- What would you say to young people in Lanzarote who are thinking about dedicating themselves to sustainable fashion?
I would tell them that generally the process is slow. Like any art, it is not about putting on and taking out garments like churros. there is a lot of learning along the way.
But it is possible, I think that right now we are in a super moment for sustainable fashion, the planet can't take it anymore, it is becoming a clothing dump. Clothing pollutes more than almost any other industry. We have to change the way we consume.
