Domingo Rodríguez (Dominnico): "Creating slow fashion is about viewing design as a craft"

Domingo Rodríguez Lázaro was born in Alicante in 1994. He is the mastermind behind the label Dominnico, renowned for its genderless designs and celebrity-studded catwalk shows. The firm operates under the ethos of slow fashion and is defined by meticulous patternmaking, continuous research into new fabrics and materials, sustainable production processes, and a futuristic vision of fashion in which the values of inclusion and freedom serve as the guiding thread running through every collection. His runway debut took place in Budapest in 2017 with a collection titled Unusual Dichotomy. Rodríguez sees himself as a voice for an entire generation, and his designs pay full tribute to pop culture through vibrant palettes and contrasting textures. The brand was founded in Barcelona, and the designer holds the city close to his heart. 080 Barcelona Fashion is his home catwalk, the stage where the label reveals its rawest identity; it is not merely a showcase, but an integral part of Dominnico’s fabric. He welcomes The New Barcelona Post backstage at the event’s 38th edition, surrounded by members of his team and the exclusive garments taking to the runway. He takes a few moments to discuss his inspiration, his collaborations with headline stars, and the values driving his brand, which he champions at every turn. This year marks a decade since the brand began shaping its distinct world, culminating in SUPERNOVA Spring 2027. The explosion of a star at the end of its life cycle becomes a metaphor for transformation and a catalyst for what lies ahead. For him, this is not an ending, but the dawn of a new era.

— How do you differ from the Domingo Rodríguez who presented Unusual Dichotomy in Budapest?

— The truth is that, on both a personal and professional level, the same excitement and drive remain intact. I believe what has changed over these years, over this decade, is ultimately the professionalisation: being able to build a business, create jobs, turn it into a tangible reality, sell across the globe, and carve out space for a project and a brand that goes well beyond making clothes.

— How do you find inspiration and where do you draw your references to create these kinds of collections?

— The idea begins with staying true to our brand identity, reinforcing our cultural touchstones and pop imagery, and from there finding ways to reinterpret different themes so they align with our aesthetic codes. In this case, there were two key pillars. First, this whole ‘Office Corp’ moment: translating our own uniform – tailored blazers, waistcoats, pinstripes – into micro silhouettes. For instance, pairing exquisite satins with fur and contrasting fabrics, stepping outside our familiar leather comfort zone.

The other touchstone is Madonna as a cross-generational icon: her reinvention across the decades, her aesthetic, and the message conveyed through her music. I drew inspiration from various moments in her life, paying homage to that world of club culture, nightlife, and dance music she captured with her Confessions II album, released this year. There are even subtle nods to her within the show’s soundtrack.

— In your previous collection, Soft Armor Fall 2026, you framed fashion as emotional armour. Why this concept of armour?

— In that collection, we explored how we present ourselves to the world. It was a poetic way of saying that how we appear to others can often serve as a shield, a way to cloak our vulnerability in order to fit into society.

— You advocate for your work as slow fashion. How do you reconcile that with the pace of the runway calendar and social media virality? What is your take on fast fashion?

— I would say that practising slow fashion means approaching fashion as a craft, rooted in daily atelier work, close supplier relationships, and local workshops. We manufacture all our garments in Barcelona, and it is no longer just about going viral on social media; it is about converting the impact of an image into a sale. Having a presence across two bases, in Madrid and Barcelona, alongside producing four collections a year, requires balancing custom orders with manufacturing the upcoming lines.

— This notion of slow fashion is also tied to sustainability. Can fashion truly be sustainable, or is it already?

— Well, I believe any positive change we can make within our own sphere is worthwhile. We have to start from the premise that our clothing and the luxury sector are not essential necessities; they are objects of desire. Beyond that reality and what the industry entails, as an independent designer and label it is easier to purchase deadstock fabrics from larger fashion houses, use recycled materials, and create fresh opportunities out of what other companies discard as waste.

“We don’t produce anything abroad and we try to support local enterprise”

— What commitment should the industry make to become more environmentally responsible? What are your own sustainability commitments?

— I think it is vital to remain conscious of what already exists and recognise that we are producing items that are not basic essentials for consumers. In my case, it is essential to track where materials come from and where they are manufactured. At Dominnico, even our hardware, badges, and footwear are produced in Alicante. We don’t produce anything abroad and we try to support local enterprise.

— Your runway shows have sparked considerable attention for their casting: Metrika, Carmen Lomana, Jessica Goicoechea… What prompted you to bring public figures, performers, and content creators onto your catwalk? How does that link back to fashion?

— The brand has always been closely intertwined with the music and entertainment industry. Over the years, friendships and creative bonds have formed with various personalities. If we already share aesthetic codes for one of their stage shows, why not take that collaboration to another level? Ultimately, they serve as powerful amplifiers to project our message.

— You have also dressed major artists for the stage. Where lies the challenge in dressing prominent personalities? To what extent does the label decide how to connect, or what unfolds with the artist?

— I would say that right from the start it has been about ensuring our values and aesthetic vision align with the specific artist. We have had the privilege of collaborating with large international teams like Beyoncé’s, as well as local artists and global icons like Rosalía. With all of them, the work is done in close quarters, involving extensive briefing sessions and meetings. The hardest part in these scenarios is movement: accepting that the garment must provide comfort and fluidity on stage, particularly for live performances. Reflecting their values and having them resonate with our vibe isn’t something we choose; it is simply who we are. From there, it comes down to striking a chord at a specific moment, within a particular creative era.

— Why Barcelona? What does this city offer that brings you back to 080 Barcelona Fashion edition after edition?

— The brand was born in Barcelona. Right now we operate a hybrid model, presenting in both Madrid and Barcelona. In Madrid, it always takes the form of an exhibition. But Barcelona provides tremendous visibility when communicating through our community and out to the world. Furthermore, the organisation behind 080 Barcelona Fashion is striving to build – and succeeding in creating – a cutting-edge platform in terms of curating proposals and communications. On top of that, being able to present to the world from home is pretty cool.

It isn’t just that we believe in and trust the organisation and the creative directions they pursue year after year; we firmly believe in their strategy for communicating our collections, scaling reach, and driving sales. Their promotional approach has helped diverse media outlets cover our lines, allowing us to establish an organic presence across other spaces as well.

— At music festivals there are always a couple of acts headlining the bill. Do you see yourselves as the headliners of 080?

— We feel the responsibility of representing a generation and how it expresses itself in terms of freedom, gender, and dress. Our way of doing that has also encouraged other brands to place their trust in the 080 Barcelona Fashion platform, as well as to believe in the format and business model we have developed alongside them. That gives us the drive and momentum to create what comes next; much like this new collection, SUPERNOVA, which is not about a star exploding, but about what happens after.