The talented Haute Couture designer Stephan Badal, who resides in Antwerp, Belgium talks about the new year and his plans for 2012. And believe it or not, Marbella may also soon be the place where you can purchase his fabulous designs too!

1. Did you design anything specialy for the holiday season?

Yes! My lovely clients in Marbella but also in London, Holland and Belgium asked me to make some special evening dresses and special smoking suits for them. For Xmas moments and New Year eve, I had to make some lovely creations of haute couture men and women. Now I am busy to make new creations for my clients too, for some galas in Holland, Belgium and NYC this month. It's alway's great to make new creations for each clients that I have! They need to be special and the must look great in my creations too. It's important that each client feels more than good and special in my haute couture creations and that gives me more a great feeling!

2. What is your new pret-a-porter first line summer 2012 like?

For men: Very manly suits with muscular details (very powerful!), shirts, tight jeans and strong for each man that likes to be very masculine and muscular in this summer season 2012. 

For women: the collection is more feminine and little bit business-like. 2012 summer offers each women something to wear - sexy light dresses, short skirts and sexy looks. For example tight skinny trousers and summer business outfits for each women that have power and are living the life of a business women.

3. What inspired you this time?

Last year was a great time to gain inspiration. But at this moment, 2012 is a new year and a new start for all of us and that gave me a lot of inspiration. How last year brought a lot of problems for a lot of people in business. Many people lost money and recession was all over Europe. Now I hope 2012 will be much better, although i believe the recessions isn't completely over with this year as well. It has given me some inspiration to see what is the best sulotion for my collection in 2012, so that the customers shouldn't have to spend too much money. Although I love to spend for quality I still keep in mind that it is important for the clients also to get a good price for what they love to wear. I'm also inspired by the people in this world - how they live and what they do to survive!

4. What are your plans for 2012? Are you planning on visiting Marbella?

I have a lot coming this year and it is my Year! You have to believe in what you want and then you can actually get it! I know that it's alway's not easy to stick to your dreams and make them come true, but the least you can do is try!

In 2012 I am very busy with my First Line pret-a-porter collection for 2012-2013 winter, which I'm finishing. The collection is for both - men and women and the clothes give the wearer a cool "powerlook". 

My Haute Couture show will take place on March 24th 2012 in Antwerp, so I am busy with that as well. I want to make a great collection for men and women, and present this haute couture collection with all my great sponsors, Hair creation by Sanke Belgium, make-up and parfum by Guerlain Benelux, Mercedes Benz Belux etc. So if you are interested in my MIP show from Marbella you can contact Tene Sommer from i-marbella.com,(tene@i-marbella.com) to ask for an invitation. See my website for more info: www.stephanbadal.com.  But this fashion show and after party will be something extra special..

5. What else are you designing besides clothing?

I have a handbag collection coming this year! They are a combination of leather and exotic skins! This collection is something that I'm working on now and it will be limited edition and presented all over Europe!

Also another interesting project is my new furniture collection for nice houses, private clubs, top restaurants, yachts and hotels aso.  I have the support of the best furniture designer in at this moment, my lovely client and friend Mrs. Michelle Moore and Mr. Teun van Zanten, who are helping me with the technical details of the furniture. Mr. Teun van Zanten has been working as a furniture designer for more than 30 years and his experiences are incredible..

Marbella is definitely my next step for presenting my collections! But you can only present yourself 1 time and you have to make sure its perfect - location, time etc. But we will give you all the information and surprises here on i-Marbella.com!

Be patient...

6. What do you consider your biggest achievement on 2011?

My biggest achievement in 2011 was my First Line pret-a-porter collection that is going great! Better then in 2010. Also I move to another location with my salon/couturehouse, which is not so far from Antwerp City and its a bigger and nicer building and there I sell my haute couture and First Line pret-a-porter collection. 

But of course the most important for me is to always stay healthy and be happy and that I achieved last year also!