Francisco Costa

Right after high school, I moved to Rio and took classes to become a technician for a manufacturing factory where you had to figure out how to produce 3,000 pairs of jeans. But in Rio, I was by myself, which was very liberating, being so young. I got to do my own thing. ”

I'm so not interested in gossip. It just gives me the creeps. I love the work; I love what I do. If somebody sends me an interview that has any connotation of something that's not interesting or genuine, I'm not interested. I really detach myself from it. ”

If you have beautiful knees, show your knees. I'm not a puritan. I love skin. ”

My love of fashion stemmed from my mother's passion for it. ”

I have no tolerance for boredom. I spend so many hours in the office, and I still love it. ”

I don't love reading so much, but I love book shopping. ”

I love to garden and cook whenever I get the chance and escape anywhere that's peaceful and quiet. My philosophy on living well is to always stay positive in life. ”

Rio was a period of my life, and then, poof, I'm gone. I was very young living here, just kind of floating. New York was a foundation for everything I do today. Rio was the bridge. ”

When I say art influences me, which it does, it's not at all in a literal form. You go and see exhibitions or collections or meet an artist. It's all a compilation. Every moment, at all times, all this information. Then all this information disappears, and it shows up later in the process. ”

I'm inspired by many things, from landscapes to textiles. Art and architecture always influence my design process. ”