Antonio López Fuentes

Traditional dressmaker

Andrés Benítez©Michelangelo Foundation

©Michelangelo Foundation

Andrés Benítez©Michelangelo Foundation

Dressing for the dance with bulls

Antonio's clients are bullfighters from around the globe
His craft is part of his family legacy
Classic Greek art is an endless source of inspiration for him

Bullfighting has been part of the life of Antonio López Fuentes since his early days. To make ends meet, his mother used to work as an embroiderer making 'trajes de luces', one-of-a-kind precious attire for toreros, or Spanish bullfighter. Antonio's stories are rooted in the present, although he likes to go back in time, to when toreros of the likes of Dominguín and Manolete were the celebrities of the day, and talk of preserving the tradition of corridas. Curiosity has always been his main drive. Antonio is passionate about Greek art and as a master in tailoring he knows how to sketch, embroider and orchestrate a team. He has spent his whole career at Casa Fermín, named after his late brother, the workshop he opened in 1963. To this day it is the ultimate tailoring destination for any torero in search for a flattering outfit.

Interview

Andrés Benítez©Michelangelo Foundation

Andrés Benítez©Michelangelo Foundation

Can you describe the curiosity that drives you?: I have always been drawn to museums. This curiosity opened doors to me, challenging and enriching my mind. Greek art is my source of inspiration when creating and tailoring an outfit. I like observing, studying proportions. I find the movement of sculptures captivating.
Do you find satisfaction in finishing a piece?: Craftsmanship is a never-ending challenge with yourself. You can never put your mind at rest. It is demanding and expects only the best from you. Any time I finish an outfit I am already thinking about what will follow. Happiness is about the next chapter.
Would you share some tips about your crafting process?: I make everything by hand and bespoke, fitted directly on the body of the torero. It has happened to me to finish the last details just moments before the start of a corrida! I want my creations to stand out and this is achieved through choice of colours, precious embroideries and a perfect cut and fit.
What is your relationship with the torero?: Bullfighting has deep roots in the Spanish culture and the corrida is like a ritual dance, in which the bull is never a rival. Instead it has a divine aura allowing this dance to take place, and the corrida is a metaphor of life in which the bullfighter faces fear, truth and either wins or loses.

Antonio López Fuentes is a master artisan: he began his career in 1959 and he started teaching in 2000