We interview Cristina Castañer, founder of the sustainable handbag brand MyBestys

Cristina Castañer opens the doors of her home to talk to us about fashion, art and creativity, as well as telling us about her most personal project: MyBestys.

When Cristina Castañer began her professional career in the family business – the renowned footwear brand Castañer – she probably never imagined that her destiny would lie elsewhere, in a more personal project. MyBestys was born out of her love for creativity and the need to expand her own. We spoke to its founder, a woman who, in addition to being a key player in the success of Castañer, has managed to create a fashion project based on the principles of sustainability and craftsmanship. Cristina welcomes us into her home to talk to us about MyBestys, art, fashion, music and everything that inspires her, of which there are many things.

This interview comes as a result of Cristina Castañer’s participation in the new Juno House shop, an initiative that is committed to eight local brands in its official kick off and that seeks to be a benchmark in the fashion sector in Barcelona.

MyBestys was born out of a beautiful story; a kind of love affair in an old mattress fabric factory. How exactly did it happen?

It was by chance. I went to that factory, which was closing down, and I was amazed that next to my house there was such a treasure, with metres and metres of mattress fabrics. I was totally captivated by those fabrics, their quality and the colours, which were made with natural dyes. I got the syndrome that I wanted to own them and I started to desperately buy as much as I could. I kept it and told myself that I had to show it. At that time it seemed to me that the easiest thing to do was to make bags.

In fact, you came from working in the family business, Castañer shoes. What was that change like?

I came from an American consultancy when I started working at Castañer. The circumstances were totally alien to me, as my father died suddenly in a car accident and I felt I had to go and work for the family. I felt it was essential to create the Castañer shop concept, because it didn’t exist. I worked in all areas of Castañer and created a concept store, i.e. a multi-brand shop. Many customers knew that you could find special things there. It gave me great satisfaction to create a world of quality and creativity.

After so many years of working in the family business, after Covid I decided to take a break and went to Menorca for a short period of time, where I learned the value of preserving nature and decided to start a new project: MyBestys.

Do you produce on demand?

MyBestys is small and complex. More or less we do have orders from some clients and it’s on demand, but as it’s more sold online you have to take the risk of having a stock that you sell.

‘I was totally captivated by these fabrics, their quality and the colours, which were made with natural dyes’.

Do you consider each bag to be an exclusive piece?

They are limited editions because I have specific canvas, wool and leather and it goes as far as it goes. On the other hand, the linings are either made of shirt fabric or linen and everything is very well cared for. In that sense, I would like to say that it is more than fairly priced. Sometimes I get a bit annoyed when people tell me I’m expensive. The bags are jewels: each one is made with materials that no longer exist on the market and wonderful qualities. I don’t produce outside Spain. They are real jewels with luxury quality. In fact, now the big brands are returning to this, to craftsmanship.

How do you define sustainability in the context of MyBestys and what have been the biggest challenges you have faced?

Sustainability in MyBestys is the essence, because when I saw all these fabrics and wanted to give them a second life I understood that for me that is sustainability. What I want to show is that with existing stocks, you can create many things, and you can even make a brand.

The essence of MyBestys is to create new things with existing materials, giving them a second life.
I defend that without polluting more, you can make beautiful things.

What have been the biggest challenges you have faced in terms of sustainability?

The challenges are manifold every day. Since I started MyBestys, I have often thought that I was crazy and that I was going to give it up because it is a huge effort.

It is true that I am a very experienced person: I have worked for many years in my family business, Castañer, but I knew that getting involved in a totally new brand was practically madness that requires the energy of youth. My brand is very young even though I am not. Even so, I was driven by the illusion of thinking if I was capable of doing it.

‘The essence of MyBestys lies in creating new things with materials that already exist, giving them a second life. I believe that without polluting more, you can make beautiful things’.

I defend Made in Spain, but it is very difficult to find craftsmen in Spain who work well and want to do it in small quantities. If these craftsmen retire and you go to a factory, they put you in the queue because of the quantities.
Another difficulty is finding a team that wants to follow you.

Working in Spain is very expensive, introducing a brand is very difficult and you need a lot of enthusiasm and a lot of desire.

Do you see sustainability as a current trend or as the inevitable future?

Everyone puts sustainability in their mouths but few brands are sustainable.
It is being introduced more slowly than I would like, and it would be wonderful if in the future the new generations really appreciate it.

I understand that fast fashion is very tempting, because maybe you have something very nice for €30, and with €30 I don’t even have enough to start with… You can’t make the numbers work.

Both for society and for the planet, the ideal thing would be for people to start appreciating quality, local manufacturing and unique pieces. When you see the amount of clothes, bags and shoes that are thrown away, you realise that the current system is crazy.

Tell us about the new Summer Bestys collection for this summer.

The Summer Bestys are made with old Castañer fabrics from the 50’s and with raffia sea animal ornaments that are handmade by some indigenous ladies from Colombia who I have a lot of respect for.

More and more importance is being given to all indigenous work because these are cultures that are being lost over time. Even at this year’s Venice Biennale, what has been done in all countries is to recognise indigenous cultures, which produce marvellous ancestral art. From my modest point of view, I also try to give value to them, and more so to women, who have a double burden: that of the family and that of making handicrafts.

Colour, creativity and freshness are some of the elements of your designs, but we also find them in one of your main passions: art. How is your link with art?

Since I was very young I have been very interested in art. I have always loved going to museums and art galleries. When I was young I started collecting posters and as I had a little more purchasing power I started collecting in galleries in Barcelona. I’m a regular at international fairs and Biennials. I don’t know if it’s my hobby, my passion… I don’t know how to define it.

‘All indigenous work is being given more and more importance because these are cultures that are being lost over time. Even at this year’s Venice Biennale there has been recognition’.

Two things happen to me with art: sometimes I fall in love with the piece but I also love to get to know the artist. If I know the artist and I see the piece, I find communion and I collect it. Even so, the word ‘collection’ seems a bit pretentious to me because I have friends who are collectors and they do have wonderful art collections. Mine ends up being art accumulation rather than collecting. I’m passionate about it.

Besides art, what inspires you?

I’ve always been very observant. Travelling is one of my hobbies, and if you go with an open mind and open eyes there are a thousand things that you suddenly connect with and realise that something has inspired you. I also love music: opera, more modern music… I have multiple interests.

‘I’ve always loved going to museums and art galleries. When I was young I started collecting posters and as I had a bit more purchasing power I started collecting and I started collecting in galleries in Barcelona’.

Do you think that this universe of creativity has inspired you to create MyBestys?

I’m a creative person, but it’s one thing to be creative and another to have a brand. You have to combine the two, because a brand is supposed to be a business. In my case it’s a small and sustainable business in itself: as I know fashion, I know that it’s not done by investing, but you have to go slower.

How do you imagine the brand in 5 years?

I don’t know, I can’t imagine it; I would have to make a 5-year strategy. The day-to-day is quite saturating for me.
If I start dreaming, I would love for the brand to be very consolidated and for it to be a beloved brand that is present in many places.

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