Margarita Ruyra And Valentina Suárez-Zuloaga

Creative, hardworking, family-oriented and affectionate, that's how Margarita Ruyra and Valentina Suárez-Zuloaga, mother and daughter and creators of the Spanish slow fashion project ES Fascinante, are described.

Biography

Margarita was the founder and director of the Museology magazine, a consultant in the financial and museum sector, and is currently the director of the Zuloaga Foundation and co-founder of ES Fascinante.

Valentina worked for a few years in the world of luxury cosmetics, then went to London where she began her professional career in the world of fashion at Stella McCartney and later at Temperley London until creating ES Fascinante in 2018.


Why did you decide to join forces and start a business focused on Spanish slow fashion?

It was a passion we both shared, and we decided to do it together because we saw it as the natural path to take. When we started, Spanish slow fashion wasn't being talked about, and we didn't think it was being given the importance it deserved. We saw the opportunity and the need to work to give it visibility and make it accessible to an audience that was unfamiliar with it.
Furthermore, family entrepreneurship has always been in our family's DNA.


What's it like working together?

It is a great privilege to be able to share and spend so much time together doing what we are passionate about.
Sometimes it's difficult to separate the personal from the professional, but we've always known what our role was within the organization and that has facilitated the work dynamic.


What have you learned from each other professionally? And personally?

Valentina: Personally, I have learned from my mother the importance of being patient and generous also in the professional field, given that these types of projects are so complex, being a marathon, not a sprint.

Margarita: From Valentina I have learned to be practical and I admire the leadership character she has developed.

“It’s a huge blessing to be able to share and spend so much time together doing what we’re passionate about.”

What does being a mother mean to you?

For us, being a mother is the best thing in life. It's a "job" that can sometimes be unrewarding, but it gives meaning to everything we do.


How has your life changed?

Having children is the greatest miracle in life. It changes everything: your priorities, your needs, your daily routine, and of course, your long-term plans and the meaning you give to what you do.


What value is important to pass on when you are a mother?

Respect for yourself and others, generosity, loyalty, and hard work.


What advice would you give to a future mother?

Do them a favor and educate them; they will always thank you for it.
And being a mother is not the same as being a "friend." You have to know the difference, even if it's hard.
Be very affectionate with your children and make them feel special and that they can achieve anything.

“For us, being mothers is the best thing in life.”

-Relationship with beauty:


What is beauty for you and how do you experience it in your daily routine?

For us, beauty is health, well-being within yourself. The truth is, until recently it wasn't something we addressed routinely, I suppose due to a lack of knowledge and time. Our daily routines can be summarized as cleansing, moisturizing, and sun protection, both day and night.


What or who inspires you on a daily basis?

I'm inspired by people who strive for excellence in everything they do, whatever that may be. I'm inspired by people with a constant curiosity and a desire to learn.


Who are your beauty icons?

Beatrice Borromeo

Caroline of Monaco


What's the best advice your mother ever gave you?

Valentina: Do what's expected of you at your age; don't try to skip steps or rush things. Take care of your family, because that's the legacy you leave behind.
-Beauty Questionnaire:


What is your skincare routine?

Cleansing and moisturizing, and sun protection in the morning. We use a face mask occasionally, and then when we go out to an event or dinner, a brightening ampoule. Once every 1-3 months, we do a deep cleansing facial, and ideally, an Indiba session once every six months.


A foolproof trick or product

Sun protection


How do you take care of your beauty from within?

My mother takes vitamins. Try to sleep and get 7-8 hours of sleep. It's also very important to stay well hydrated and eat a balanced diet, eating a variety of foods in reasonable portions.


A subject that needs addressing (in terms of beauty)

Valentina: I'm going to get blood tests done to understand how I feel inside.
Margarita: I have to take care of my diet because I have intolerances that cause me discomfort.

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