Agatha Ruiz de la Prada

Agatha Ruiz de la Prada (Madrid, 1960) studied at the School of Arts and Fashion Techniques in Barcelona. At the age of 20, she began working as an assistant in the Madrid atelier of fashion designer Pepe Rubio. Just one year later, she presented her first collection at Madrid's LOCAL Design Center.

Since then, Agatha has showcased her collections in the world's leading fashion capitals—Paris, Milan, New York, Florence, Madrid, and others—and has been invited as Guest of Honor and representative of Spanish fashion at some of the most prestigious fashion events worldwide.

Her creations have become a true form of artistic expression. From the beginning of her career, she exhibited some of her signature pieces in galleries and museums across Europe, the Americas, and Asia.

In recent years, her collaboration with Google Arts & Culture on the international We Wear Culture project has been particularly noteworthy. Through two virtual exhibitions, the project celebrates Agatha's unique contribution as part of the cultural heritage of the fashion world.

Agatha has also collaborated with numerous artists, including Enrique Vega, Gloria García Lorca, Eduardo Chillida, Pep Guerrero, Luis Galliussi, Philippe Andrieux, Bárbara Juan, Ciuco Gutiérrez, Christopher Makos, Miguel Ángel Molina, Michel Bresson, Ramiro E., Orlan, Nicole Herzog, and Karim Rashid.

She signed her first licensing agreement in 1986, and since then has established commercial partnerships with more than 100 companies in sectors including fashion accessories, ceramic wall and floor coverings, homeware, fragrances, stationery, and many other product categories. These collections are distributed through the designer's flagship stores as well as multi-brand retailers around the world.

Through collaborations with a wide range of companies and public institutions, Agatha has also designed uniforms, costumes and stage sets for theater, opera, and dance productions, playgrounds and urban furniture, theme parks, murals, gardens, restaurants, event graphics, automobiles, and many other creative projects.

Her contribution to the image and international recognition of Spanish fashion has been acknowledged with Spain's National Fashion Design Award (2017) and the National Fashion Industry Award (2018), adding to the Gold Medal of Merit in the Fine Arts, which she received in 2008.

Since 2011, the Agatha Ruiz de la Prada Foundation has been dedicated to cataloguing, preserving, and promoting the extraordinary documentary legacy of nearly four decades of Agatha's work in fashion and creativity. The Foundation safeguards a significant archive representing the evolution of her career and artistic vision.

AWARDS:

• Alcatel GSM Awards for the Boldest Communication (1996)
• Delta d'Oro International Ecology Award, Ferrara, Italy (1997)
• Golden Laurel Award for Career Achievement in Fashion (1998)
• FIFI Award for Best Fragrance Packaging and Communication for AGUA (2003)
• Keys to the City of Cartagena de Indias, Colombia (2004)
• La Kore – Fashion Oscar, International Stylist (2004)
• FIFI Award for Best Packaging and Advertising Campaign for LIO fragrance (2005)
• FIFI Award for Best Communication for IMAGINA fragrance (2006)
• Special T de Telva Award for Career Achievement in Fashion (2006)
• Colombia es Pasión Award, Colombia (2007)
• New Yorkers Award, Spain–US Chamber of Commerce, New York (2007)
• 5th Top Glamour Award for Best Spanish Designer of the Year (2007)
• Marie Claire Prix de la Mode for Outstanding Professional Career (2007)
• Kapital Award for Best Designer (2008)
• Max Leones Performing Arts Award for Best Designer, Madrid (2008)
• Power Woman Award, MOVES Magazine, New York (2008)
• Persephone Award, Club de los Medios (2009)
• Fashion Ambassador of the Year, Seville (2009)
• Gold Medal of Merit in the Fine Arts, Spain (2009)
• Golden Antenna Award for Career Achievement in Fashion (2009)
• Golden Thread Honor Award – Designer of the Year, Łódź, Poland (2009)
• Distinguished Visitor of Santiago, Chile (2009)
• Guest of Honor of the City of Buenos Aires (2009)
• Designer of the Year Award, Miami, USA (2009)
• Women Together Award for Commitment to Women's Rights, New York (2010)
• Dedication to Fashion Award, Seville (2010)
• CECOMA Business Innovation Award, Madrid (2010)
• Excellence in Design Award for Contribution to International Design, Mexico (2010)
• Guest of Honor of the City of Medellín (2011)
• Lorenzo il Magnifico Award, Florence Biennale, Italy (2011)
• Latin Fashion Contribution Award, Washington, D.C. (2011)
• Green Thimble Eco Fashion Award, Málaga (2011)
• Plus es Más Businesswoman of the Year Award, Madrid (2011)
• Commitment to HIV Award, AET, Madrid (2011)
• National Marketing Award, ICEX, Madrid (2013)
• Dialogue Award from the Spanish-French Friendship Association, together with Jean Paul Gaultier (2013)
• Golden Thimble Award for Best Designer, Madrid (2013)
• ACOTEX Awards – Best Designer, Madrid (2013)
• Serbia Fashion Week Award (2014)
• Victory Puig de Lange International Style Award, Miami Fashion Week (2014)
• Tendencias Award for Best Designer, Valencia (2014)
• Corazón Award for Professional Career, Starlite Gala, Marbella (2014)
• Distinguished Guest of Barranquilla, Colombia (2015)
• Pata Negra Award, Madrid (2015)
• Escaparate Award, Seville (2015)
• Honorary Ambassador Award, 25th Anniversary of SICAB, Seville (2015)
• Puente Award, American Club of Madrid (2016)
• Walk of Fame Star, Cine Center Cochabamba (2016)
• Honduras Country Brand Recognition, Tegucigalpa (2016)
• Fedeltà al Lavoro Award, Vigevano, Italy (2016)
• Vogue Madrid Jewel Personality Award (2016)
• Recognition from the Municipality of Viña del Mar, Chile (2017)
• Lifetime Achievement Award, Romania (2017)
• Honorary Doctorate in Fashion, Atelierele Ilbah, Romania (2017)
• Fashion Excellence Award, ALCI Awards, Madrid (2017)
• Fashion Creator Award, La Razón, Spain (2017)
• Young Leaders Award, Buenos Aires (2017)
• National Fashion Design Award, Spain (2017)
• Recognition from the Belux Official Chamber of Commerce, Brussels (2017)
• Best International Designer Award, Dubai Fashion Week (2017)
• Guest of Honor of the City of Buenos Aires, Argentina (2017)
• Marie Claire Award for Outstanding Career, Spain (2017)
• Career Achievement Award, Club de las 25, Spain (2017)
• Diversity Award, EPF Awards, Spain (2017)
• Mayte Spínola Gold Medal (2018)
• ARI Design Award, Madrid (2018)
• ADYMO Designer of the Year Award, Asturias (2018)
• Honorary National Fashion Industry Award, Spain (2018)
• Diversa Fashion Award, Madrid (2019)
• Senda Senior of the Year Award, Madrid (2019)
• National Hospitality Award, Madrid (2020)
• Madrid Magazine Award (2020)
• San Isidro Bowler Hat Award, Madrid (2021)
• Golden Pin Award for Professional Career, Málaga (2021)
• Luxury Awards – Brand Legacy Award, Madrid (2021)
• Fearless Woman Award for Sustainable Fashion, Madrid (2022)
• Medal of the City of Madrid, San Isidro Honors (2023)
• SIE Award for Corporate Excellence in Fashion, Madrid (2024)
• ELLE Education–Mindway Award for Professional Career, Madrid (2024)
• Hispanic Influence Award for Fashion, Madrid (2024)