Gabriela Gonzalez, known as “a shining star”, is the talent behind each sensual dress designed together with her great friend the renowned Welsh designer Julien Macdonald, who refers to Gabriela as his talented and inspiring muse.
Julien X Gabriela haute couture designs have become the favourite brand of the biggest Hollywood celebrities, taking over the most important red carpets in the world.
The exclusive designs are one of a kind, making these hand-embroidered jewels the most desired dresses in the fashion industry.
Mexico hides more than a treasure. Gabriela Gonzlez has become the first Latin American woman to close a runway in London during London Fashion Week. With this interview, she opens up about her journey and the motivation behind her success.
Julien X Gabriela haute couture designs have become the favourite brand of the biggest Hollywood celebrities, taking over the most important red carpets in the world.
Your multiple talents surprise us and many of your fans equally. Would you like to tell us more about your career and how has your journey been so far?
Well, first of all, thank you for these words and for giving me the opportunity to share a bit of my life with you. My career has been a wonderful journey, it has had moments of excitement and a lot of hard work. It has been as full of glamour as most people might think, but the work behind it is intense and full of emotion. The creative process is something I enjoy a lot. It allows me to pour my heart and soul into the pieces that we create with such love and passion.
At what point did you decide to do something in the fashion industry and what was your biggest inspiration?
I’ve been in love with fashion since I was a little girl. I loved to play dress-up, I’ve always been fascinated by glamorous pieces, and I have loved the whole process of getting ready for an event since I was a teenager. I took my time in choosing my clothes, shoes and accessories and of course doing my hair and makeup. For me, it’s always about the process and not just the final result. My biggest inspiration is to create the impact that a woman can project while walking with the confidence she possesses when she feels empowered by what she’s wearing.
My career has been a wonderful journey, it has had moments of excitement and a lot of hard work.
You have worked with various people in the industry, who has been the most fun to work with and which collection is your favourite so far?
Oh! this is a great question and I will be completely honest here, I’ve worked with amazing people, and this includes; makeup artists, photographers, world-renowned musicians and A list movie stars but, working with my partner Julien Macdonald has been an amazing experience because he is incredibly talented. Also, because we work so well together, we have an unspoken way of communicating and very similar views on glamour, fashion and style. So, my favourite collection is the one where I gave my all, the one that allowed me to express the glamour I like to see in pieces, give my heart to every gown, every handmade detail and the one that gave me the chance to create something that would make anyone who wears it the star of the night, I’m talking about our Julien X Gabriela.
We noticed that you have a keen interest in horsemanship. You have also extensively talked about your horse on your website. Would you like to tell us more about it?
Yes, I do. I discovered horses at the age of 4 and have been in love ever since. I got into show jumping and started to practice professionally. It’s a sport that has always brought me enormous joy and accomplishments. It also allows me to discover the unique language and connection that I have with horses. They’re beautiful animals, incredibly smart and sensitive. I have wonderful memories with them, from the first one my father got for me, to the ones that I competed with and the beautiful mare that I have at the moment, my amazing and powerful, black as night, Cinderella. So, we could say that horses have been my biggest passion but the truth is I have a very deep love for any creature that I could be with. I feel like I create a very special and deep connection with them.
I’ve worked with amazing people, and this includes; makeup artists, photographers, world-renowned musicians and A list movie stars but, working with my partner Julien Macdonald has been an amazing experience because he is incredibly talented.
What other sports do you like to be a part of or enjoy from time to time?
I love summers and I’m a big fan of the ocean, so naturally, I enjoy water sports such as jet-skiing, snorkelling around the beautiful reefs around the world. I also love the feeling of relaxation I get from yoga and I work out at the gym too.
Do you think sports have a big impact on your fitness? What is your favourite fitness routine?
Well, I think it’s a combination of various factors. Of course, my routine helps out a lot, but it also involves a good and healthy diet, trying to live a stress-free life and resting when needed. One of the things that I enjoy the most in life is food. I love having a good delicious meal as well.
I don’t have a specific routine that I could share with you but it’s mostly about being consistent and working towards your own goals, having the body that makes you happy and not how others think you should look. It’s more about being healthy and at peace with yourself and that requires a routine made for each person.
I enjoy water sports such as jet-skiing, snorkelling around the beautiful reefs around the world.
You are not only fit, but beautiful inside and out. Although we can notice your inner beauty through this conversation, the secret behind your natural beauty is still unheard. Would you like to spill some beans here?
Thank you so much! I really appreciate your words. I believe in general that natural beauty resides in the eyes of the beholder. Inner beauty can’t be seen in a mirror but it does have a reflection, and that reflection is seen in the people around you. When your actions can help others, you know what you’re doing is good.
Feelings and emotions in someone’s soul are sometimes hard to express through pictures. And I know I don’t share much about my private life, but in every single post, I try to write positive words, things that might put a smile on someone’s face or cheer them up if they need it. Sometimes we underestimate how far an image can go and how much of a person can be seen through.
A career like yours must take you all around the world. What has been your favourite place to travel? Would you like to recommend an underrated travel destination?
Definitely, I’ve been fortunate enough to visit so many places around our amazing world, and theres so much more to see and experience, sometimes you can go to a city for a second or third time and discover new things and see the place with different eyes because a wonderful place depends on perspective and the things that each person likes.
I couldn’t say a specific destination, but I can give an advice: go where your heart tells you to, and you will never regret the journey.
Inner beauty can’t be seen in a mirror but it does have a reflection, and that reflection is seen in the people around you. When your actions can help others, you know what you’re doing is good.
If you could travel with only two people and one cuisine, who and what would be your pick?
It would be with my husband, who is my soulmate and my biggest support in life, and the other person would be someone from my family.
Now the food is hard to say! Because I’m Mexican and we have amazing food in this country, but I also love Italian cuisine, French of course, I love sushi, seafood! Like I mentioned previously, eating is one of my greatest pleasures in life. So that’s a question with no definite answer.
Has there ever been an incident in your life that had a lasting effect on you as a person?
This is something I’ve never talked about in an interview, or at least I don’t remember, as it is an event that marked a before and after in my life, and that is my father’s death. Losing him completely changed the way I see life. My important dates weren’t the ones marked in the calendar but those that I got the chance to spend with him. He was my confidence, my heart, my guiding light and my protector. After that incident, every day is a new beginning, a new opportunity where I value every second and every experience I share with my loved ones. I realized everything has a solution in this life, except death.
It would be with my husband, who is my soulmate and my biggest support in life, and the other person would be someone from my family.
What exciting plans do you have to surprise us in the future?
Well, I can’t give you details, but I will say that we are working hard, we are creating, sharing ideas, we’re conceptualizing and opening our hearts and souls to bring a new collection, one that will be filled with our signature glamour and fabulous style.
We thank you for your time, Gabriela! In the end, what word of advice would you like to leave us with?
Thank you so much for thinking of me, it’s a pleasure to share these thoughts with you.
Kindness, always be kind, the world needs so much empathy, it always has. Look around, touch your heart and try to do good in every task of your life.
We are working hard, we are creating, sharing ideas, we’re conceptualizing and opening our hearts and souls to bring a new collection, one that will be filled with our signature glamour and fabulous style.
