Carlos Polite
A unique and independent identity
Is a Colombian-Spanish designer, based in Spain. He studied Fine Arts at the Complutense University of Madrid and holds a Master Degree in Design and Art.
He joined Polite as Creative Director in 2010 and nice then has led the creation of the brand’s new concept of design. Due to his artistic sense and talent the company presents an independent and unique identity. He has presented his collections at Colombia Fashion week, Paris Fashion Week, New York Fashion Week and 080 Barcelona Fashion. He has collaborated with the Spanish artist Ira Lombardia, the English artist Matthew Brookes, the artistic collective Comes Cake and the New Yorker in film fashion specialized producer Noir Tribe, among others. He has won the prize for Best Designer and Best Staging, awarded by the Colombian Journal Cromos.
Winner of Best Fashion Film at CinéFashion Film Festival, The Saban – Beverly Hills, Best International Designer Fashion Films Dominican Republic and Miami Fashion Film Festival. His work has beeb featured in journals and magazine such as SModa, Buro247, Factice Magazine, Diners Magazine, Vogue, Glamour, Harper’s Bazaar, Elle Canada, WWD and Magazine El Mundo, among others.
Our Story
A family business turned into a luxury brand
POLITE has its beginnings in 1995, initiated by Cecilia Polite. As a family business it was initially a studio where swimwear was produced, primarily in nylon.
During these first years the company’s concept structurally improved, thereby becoming a tailoring workshop, as well as beginning an industrialization process and expanding its production capacity. After years of consolidation as a clothing company, in 2010 it underwent a complete metamorphosis by creating the post of artistic director, and Carlos Polite’s incursion as artistic director. His arrival marked a turning point for POLITE. Thanks to him the company has been able to gain an independent look, with its own identity, necessary to convert all its process and technical value into a true expression of unique style, giving Polite character and visibility within the world of fashion.
In Ibagué, an intermediate city in Colombia with a textile tradition and confectionist vocation of t-shirts and jeans wear. In the year 2010 emerges a brand focused on the development of luxury products with a social responsibility.
Developing a luxury brand in a city where this is an unknown territory and where you should start by training the team is not an easy task. People who working Polite, including several mothers head of household, when they come to the company first have no knowledge about this type of product.
It is a process of cultural transformation of the city, facing the work team to other aesthetic codes and a new structural and visual languages, it changes their on life and their sensitivity to the fashion business.
The transfer of knowledge imparted in the company is viral, the people who have gone through the process of training in Polite in turn have replicated their knowledge with others witch has helped the emergence of new brands and the manufacture of new products in the region. In turn, other beneficiaries of the training process have been some smaller companies where the development of accessories and other products is outsourced.
Developing a luxury brand in a city where this is an unknown territory and where you should start by training the team is not an easy task. People who working Polite, including several mothers head of household, when they come to the company first have no knowledge about this type of product. It is a process of cultural transformation of the city, facing the work team to other aesthetic codes and a new structural and visual languages, it changes their on life and their sensitivity to the fashion business.
The transfer of knowledge imparted in the company is viral, the people who have gone through the process of training in Polite in turn have replicated their knowledge with others which has helped the emergence of new brands and the manufacture of new products in the region. In turn, other beneficiaries of the training process have been some smaller companies where the development of accessories and other products is outsourced.