Designers We Love: Don Fisher

INTERVIEWED BY Lindi Brownell Meiring IMAGES Sara Serrano

After we spotted Don Fisher’s pretty creations on Instagram, we decided to chat to the Barcelona-based design duo – namely Julia Castaño and Lorena Fernández – about their fun-loving brand.

How did Don Fisher come about? What is it about sea creatures, especially fish, that inspired you to start this brand?

I studied branding and design and when I finished my master’s degree in 2012, all I could think about was having my own shop where I could sell beautiful things. Back then, my favourite thing to do was spend hours browsing beautiful pictures on Pinterest, so I started a blog called Pesca lo Bonito, a pun that means “fishing beautiful things.” In Spanish, “bonito” means beautiful, but a bonito is also a kind of fish. There, I shared beautiful projects by different designers that I really liked.

One day, my mom suggested, “Why don’t you make fish-shaped pencil cases? They would be beautiful bonitos!” With that, I started designing and sewing – and my collection has grown from there. When I was thinking of what to name my brand, I knew it had to be the name of a Captain (of course!), so Don Fisher was a pretty good option. And here we are.

How do you decide on what to design for a new collection?

Every collection I design is inspired by a different sea or ocean, so I start studying what kind of sea creatures live in that particular body of water and interpret them into unique designs.

Do you have any new ranges coming up?

Yes! We have a new collection coming soon that is inspired by the Spanish and Portuguese coast of the Atlantic Ocean. We can’t wait to launch it!

How do our readers in South Africa get hold of your products?

They can find us online at don-fisher.com. They can also follow our catches on Facebook and Instagram. Hopefully, someday, you’ll be able to find us in a physical South African shop too!

Visit don-fisher.com to view more of this talented team’s designs.