The Ecuadorian designer Fernando Echeverria and founder of FERECH shoes has been living in Prague for many years. He graduated from Academy of Arts, Architecture and Design in Prague, in the studio of the designer Libena Rochova. While still studying, he revived the tradition of his homeland and began making leather shoes by hand.
Fernando comes from a family of a pianist and a lawyer, but they did not follow in his parents’ footsteps. The designer was bewitched by Prague and now is based and is creating in his studio in the center of Prague, in the house SmetanaQ (House of Art and Design). Leather craftsmanship is said to be an Ecuadorian speciality. He grew up in a town where everyone worked with it. The family later left for the capital and city of Quito to study and work and young Fernando was able to start studying at an art school.
He first completed a bachelor’s degree in product design, but he always wanted a master’s degree and when he decided the direction of his further studies, he was influenced by an unexpected meeting.
Fernando: ‘By complete coincidence, as is the case in life, I met a Czech designer who was traveling in Ecuador. We have become good friends. I read and heard a lot about Central Europe at the time and I wanted to know it. My Czech friend once asked me why don’t you go study in Prague? So he started thinking seriously about it, comparing the advantages and disadvantages, looking for contacts. And soon after he actually headed to the Czech Republic.
He therefore learned the basics of Czech, he put together a portfolio and enrolled at the Prague Academy of Arts, Architecture and Design. He eventually found inspiration in his own family. His grandfather devoted his entire life to the production of shoes.
‘My grandfather used to have a beautiful studio with ancient leather craft tools. But his mother didn’t know what to do with the treasures, so she gave everything to the museum. That was a really big pity. I said to myself: Why don’t you continue the tradition? I have it in my blood!’
He was part of important exhibitions: Berlin Design Week 2019, Slovak Design Week, Slovenian Month of Design, Desigblok 2018 – 2021, Bienal Iberoamericana de Diseno in Madrid, Mercedes Benz Central Europe Fashion Week in Budapest and others. His shoes were a finalist in The Bienal Iberoamericana in Madrid 2017 and won a silver medal in the A ‘Design Awards 2018.
© Fernando Echeverria.
