microteje
Discover authentic stories from fashion lovers at Runway 7!
What’s the story behind your brand, and what inspired you to be part of Runway 7?
Microteje was born in 2014, when Pamela Galán, its founder, was still working as a landscape architect, balancing knitting needles, crochet, and a manual loom. Having knitted since she was six years old, it was the pandemic and the lack of job opportunities that gave her the push to turn Microteje into her primary source of income.
From 2014 until its formal establishment in 2023, the brand went through everything—from knitted micro plants to fashion and marketing, because anything could be knitted. During this rise, the brand consolidated with its colorful and renowned vests, designs, and nods to pop culture.
Along with Lucas Schmidt, her partner and business associate, the brand continued to grow, embracing technology and developing new languages and forms that led the brand to NYFW in February 2024, opening up to the world and unleashing their creativity. We researched how to participate in one of the most important runways in the world to apply. We chose to work with Runway 7 because of their top-notch production, the magnificent venue, and the efficient and organized responses from their team to all our questions. It was a pleasant and professional experience, full of glamour and excitement.
How did you prepare to showcase your collection at such a prestigious event like Runway 7?
Our first experience was completely crazy. We didn’t have the funds to attend, but we wanted to make it happen, so it was hard to make the decision. We jumped in late and started designing and crafting the collection without the resources. We fought until the last minute, spending three weeks designing, crafting, and searching for funding, all while wildfires broke out in the city where we live."
What was your creative process like?
Our creative process tends to be more spontaneous. Being a small team, we’ve always learned by doing. We aim to promote conscious fashion, shedding light on the environmental damage caused by the industry. For our first collection, we drew inspiration from the driest place on Earth, the Atacama Desert, and the mountains of discarded clothing that stand in stark contrast to its arid yet beautiful landscape. Throughout our country, the sea spans our entire coastline, and our new collection tells the story of its battle against plastic pollution.
What was the most memorable moment for you during the event?
While the casting and backstage moments leading up to the show are exciting, we believe the runway itself is the climax of the entire experience and the most significant moment for us. We love watching the audience's reaction as they see our work—it’s a feeling that’s hard to describe, as we’ve never experienced anything like it before. There’s a mix of stress, nerves, adrenaline, and happiness all at once.
