María Menéndez Sánchez (Bimenes, 1994) has many facets. Social educator and Councilor for Culture and Youth in Bimenes, her native council, yerbata is now launched as a designer with its own brand, La Raposa.
-And at what point does politics enter her life?
-I always liked doing things for the people. My father ran the party association and I lent him a hand, even then he called me, but not because of politics, but because of the desire to change things in the town. I know what it is to be young and not be able to do anything.
-He was very young when he became aedile.
Yes, he was 21 years old. Aitor (García Corte, mayor of Bimenes) had raised it with me a year before.
-What kind of leisure did he miss when he grew up?
-Obviously I was very happy in the town, but there was no park. We got together to play, but there was nothing for us. So when I grew up I thought that now that there is a participatory youth, we should start to energize the town.
-How does it influence having leisure options in the rural area?
-If we don't have anything to entertain ourselves with, we have to go to the cities or to the neighboring towns. It is important to retain the population.
-And what do you propose for the future?
-Now that September is starting, we will once again do a Youth Participation Group. It's time to recover the young people, some have already grown up, so we will recruit in the sixth grade of Primary. From Culture I hope to move some concerts, exhibitions and the like. We would also like to resume the Fayacaba camp, we had to take a break from the pandemic.
-Going back to her facet as a designer, when and how did the La Raposa brand come about?
-During confinement I decided to register the brand and launch a line of sweatshirts, although in reality the first thing I did was a wedding dress. I started big, I couldn't go small. This year was the boom, I have many orders, in September I will dress four brides.
-How is your new collection?
-Here I came looking for something different and I bet with the kimonos, but it is based on my guela's robe, which is still the same.
-You recently dressed Beatriz Rico, how did that opportunity arise?
-I knew JK Álvarez because he came to shoot at Bimenes. He needed two very special dresses for Beatriz. She was less than a month old and I did it very happy. They were for a slightly psychotic character who had been at the campsite for some time; she had to be something showy but ancient. She was very well. As a result of that, we talked and they asked me for a suit for a short that will be shot in Madrid.
Do you have any other project in mind?
-I wanted to release a line for November focused on winter with different pieces, we'll see.
