Sienna Bentley

Peruvian designer Genaro Rivas has made a strong return to London Fashion Week with his Marvel Hill SS25 collection. This marks his third consecutive show at London Fashion Week, solidifying his reputation as a leader and pioneer in sustainable and purpose-driven fashion.

We sat down with the man behind it all to dissect the harmony between nature and city life through bold colours, as well as why and how Rivas’s work centres around how the fashion industry must evolve into a more conscious future – one that promotes artisanal work and female empowerment.

What were the aims of this collection?

The aim was to get stockists. No, I’m joking.

The aim was to make a bright, colourful collection – that’s why it’s called ‘Marvel Hill’. To create a world where women can be full of joy and colour and be unafraid to express themselves, which is sometimes overlooked. My main goal was to create one beautiful, bright collection.

What were the main challenges you faced while creating this collection?

Funding. And I also do my own PR, which is challenging – how do you ensure that the right people come in?

What is your signature style, both in work and personal dress?

My casual dress is denim jeans and a white t-shirt. It’s comfortable.

However, I like to dress women in a way that not only looks powerful, but makes them feel powerful and bold.

I always say that for me, success is not a woman wearing head-to-toe Genaro Rivas, but seeing a woman take pieces of my collections and make them her own.

That’s why, when deciding on this collection, I wanted to do these really subtle pieces – simple, plain dresses – but mix it up to create a signature style that belongs to every woman.

For example, when they see you, they’re not going to say “Sienna is wearing head-to-toe Genaro Rivas”, it’s Sienna’s style, with Genaro Rivas pieces. That, for me, is the most interesting part of it.

What has been the key to your success?

I follow my instinct, and work like a horse. I have been doing four shows in one year – back-to-back, September, February, June and then September again. It’s the feeling of showing something that is also allowing me to grow that is so great.

How would you like to see other brands introduce social consciousness into their work?

Sustainability is behind the collection itself – it’s about being transparent. Showing the team and their work.

I don’t think it’s about bringing social concepts into their branding – but into their ethos. It should already be part of their values.

What we did back in February was work with people around east London, we wanted to create community, and support their skills.

Can you tell us more about Peru as an up-and-coming fashion market?

Peru is my home country – I love it. We have marvellous fibres, marvellous materials, a lot of history and culture. But I feel like we still don’t fully get that fashion can be an industry in itself, which is sad. But it’s baby steps.

Peru is quite strict, you can be quite boxed in. But when I realised I wanted to do fashion, I joined a fashion contest, I won, I told my mum and dad that I wanted to pursue that and they accepted it. That’s why my shirt today says “thank you mother, thank you father”.

What’s one material that you would like to explore the possibilities of working with in the future?

I want to work with stone. I follow a guy who takes big river stones, cuts and polishes them and makes these big sinks. I was thinking, if he can make sinks, what about big pieces – like shoulder pads?

It’s going to be crazy heavy, but ever since I followed him on TikTok, I was inspired.

What is your main piece of advice for designers on a budget?

Use your creativity to create something beautiful. Don’t be afraid of mixing materials, and tackle budget problems with a creative point of view.

How do you tackle creative block, or seek inspiration elsewhere?

I don’t get creative block. I get inspired by going to different places. For example, I love going to the National Gallery, or the Natural History Museum on my free days. I go there to unwind, but then I take a picture of something and I wonder how I can use it for something else.