Alberto Serra Ramírez & José Antonio Marí Schroder
Vintage Ibiza
“We complement each other very well”
How did you meet and what led you to work together?
Alberto: We were both already working in fashion when we met, but separately, so we said, why don’t we make a collection together? And that collection was a massive success.
What do you each individually contribute to the relationship and the business?
A: We complement each other very well. We have been together making collections for 17 years and doing the Adlib workshop for 15 years. José takes care of international clients, because he speaks a lot of different languages, and then in the workshop we split up the work: I take care more of the brides and the party, and he is more about the classics. That’s why there is so much variety.
Who inspired you to dedicate your career to fashion design?
A: Jose was born among dressmakers because his mother was an Adlib fashion designer. In my case, my mother worked all her life in clothing stores and when I was 24 years old I set up my first store.
Why do you think it is better to work together rather than separately?
A: Because we lead the same life and it makes it a lot easier for us. We have homes in Madrid and Formentera and we like to be able to stay in each place whenever we want. Shall we head to Madrid this afternoon? OK, come on then, we’re leaving. And when things are stressful we split up our tasks to help each other as much as possible.
Tell us about some of the ups and downs you’ve had during your working relationship.
A: The truth is that we get on very well. Sometimes there’s some tension when a lot of big orders come in, but it’s not a specific problem between us. There is tension in the workshop, and you take that home with you too.
Any advice you can give us about work-life balance?
A: Respect the other person’s ideas and work and leave the necessary space so that they can also do their things individually.