How Fashion Designer Emilia Ginestet Used Her Passion For Art To Overcome A Life Drug Abuse

Backstage Marbella Fashion Week

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By Megan Valle

Argentina-based fashion designer, Emilia Ginestet found her love for fashion at one of the lowest points in her life and is alive today because of it. 

Ginestet, 27, had a difficult time growing up in Daireaux, a small town in Buenos Aires. She fell into the wrong crowds as a teenager and lacked a passion to help give her life meaning. It wasn’t until she discovered her love for fashion that she decided to get her life together. Now, her brand Petra Art Design is being featured in fashion shows around the world.

Argentina-based fashion designer, Emilia Ginestet

Her journey there was long and hard, starting as a teenager struggling with her mental health.  

“I even had to exchange schools and went to South Africa,”

Ginestet said.

“I didn’t have a good experience and that was one of the reasons why I later started to consume cocaine.”

Emilia says marijuana was the first drug she experimented with as a teenager, but it soon stopped being enough. She was dealing with depression and other mental illnesses she didn’t understand or know how to cope with.  

“I had periods where I consumed a lot,”

she said.

“I was broken. I couldn’t live to stay clean for more than six months during this time,”

she said. 

While struggling with her addiction, Emilia attended university for accounting but dropped out due to her worsening depression. She knew accounting wasn’t the right career path for her and leaving school was the right decision. 

“Soon after this, I realized I need to get clean,” she said.

“I wanted to change my life. I wanted to be happy and to leave behind the depression and psychological problems.”

Emilia says she was able to get clean after finding her passion for art. 

“When I was a child I loved to draw and paint,”

she said.

“But I never really thought about it again until I was trying to get clean. I realized this is my passion.” 

Emilia secured the rights to her brand, Petra Art Design, around March 2020 and launched in January 2021. 

Emilia creates customized jackets with a team of artists who are all intent on making unique, one-of-a -kind pieces for their clients. They use jewels, embroidery, funky patterns, and textured fabrics all sourced from India to create their jackets. 

“I love crazy designs,” she said.

“When I design my clothes I don’t just think about the colors. I think about the patterns and the jewels on the cloth. I study the cloth, look at it with great attention and get inspiration from it and if I see harmony in two or more of the cloths, I mix them together and shape them in the way I like to create the jackets.” 

In her short time as a band owner, Emilia is being recognized as a talented, up and coming designer. Petra Art Design was featured at Argentina Fashion Week and will be featured at Marbella Fashion Week in Spain this June. 

“When they selected me to show my collection at Marbella Fashion Week I couldn’t believe it,” she said. “I thought that this was impossible but no, it is possible and I’m growing fast. I’m very fortunate.” 

Emilia has a showroom for Petra Art Design in Buenos Aires but hopes to expand once the pandemic is over.  

“The economy here and around the world is really bad so I have to wait for things to get better but I really want to expand but still, I’m growing and I’m being recognized,”

she said. “I’m really proud of me.” 

Emilia feels she’s come a long way since she was a teenager. Finding her passion for art and fashion has helped her find her purpose in life and without it, she wouldn’t here. 

“The secret is to follow your dreams to find happiness.” 

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