Nicomede Talavera, a designer who puts guys in dresses

To date, the 26-year-old Nicomede Talavera is one of the promising graduates of Central Saint Martins: an internship at Blaak Homme, 3.1 Phillip Lim and Lanvin Homme. In 2011, when he was finishing a bachelor's course in men's suit design at CSM, Nicomed presented a graduation collection of ten bows, which was accompanied by a line of accessories, bags and backpacks for the American brand Eastpak. Christopher Shannon, Chris Van Ash, Gaspar Yurkevich, Rick Owens and Raf Simons created their capsule collections for the brand, and Talavera became the first student designer with whom Eastpak began working. "I was incredibly lucky to be on a par with such big names, and the Eastpak team was incredibly generous and open throughout the process of cooperation: they gave me complete freedom over the design of parts and the choice of fabrics. This opened up a lot of opportunities that seemed incredible to me at this stage in my career, "says Nicomede in an interview for Dazed Digital.

It should be noted that this cooperation was within the framework of the graduate collection of the designer and the collection was not originally intended for widespread production. But thanks to the positive reviews, Selfridges took over all the difficulties associated with selling the line. But this did not stop there, and Talavera can be proud of its next project with Eastpak for the spring-summer season 2013: this, as before, is a collection of backpacks, which, by the way, went on sale on March 15 and is now available not only in Selfridges, but also in Opening Ceremony.

About plans Talavera says: "I would like to cooperate with someone who goes beyond the design of clothes, but, nevertheless, directly relates to creativity or art. Let's say it could be an illustrator, a sculptor or even a dancer."

This year Nicomede is completing a Masters course at Central Saint Martins. His graduation collection was presented at the base of the university, along with other graduates during the London Fashion Week. As before, Talavera works with a monochrome gamut, free forms, which corresponds to his “nothing superfluous” principle, with which he approaches to work: “I am really inspired by sportswear: I try to create things that are a combination of practicality and beauty.”