TOP Spanish fashion designer Ágatha Ruiz de la Prada has been commissioned to redesign the reflective waistcoats worn by Madrid's public safety volunteers.
City mayoress Manuela Carmena announced Sra Ruiz de la Prada's involvement in her speech for World Volunteer Day, in which she gave tribute to the 12,080 members of the public who carry out unpaid emergency and security work and who are behind over 400 projects launched this year alone.
Speaking of the jackets (pictured), Sra Carmena said: “You all told me from day one that they were really ugly, and I promised to have some nicer ones made.”
Ruiz de la Prada, known for her psychedelic colour schemes and very loud, bold prints, is more famous for her ranges of accessories – from bath towels and pencil cases through to handbags, scarves and jewellery – than for clothes, of which she only creates a select few.
Such is her popularity that the volunteers, male and female, are very excited about their new jackets, which they are told will feature a heart with two hands wrapped around it.
“The hands are for protection and 'lending a hand', and the heart shows the compassion involved in reaching out to those who need help,” the mayoress says.
She announced Ruiz de la Prada had been nominated Maid of Honour for Volunteers in Madrid in recognition of her agreeing to design the jackets free of charge.
The designer's children, Tristán and Cósima Ramírez (pictured either side of Manuela Carmena - Cósima wearing her mother's designs), collected the commemorative plaque on their mum's behalf.
They spoke of Ruiz de la Prada's 'tremendous anger' at not being able to be there in person, but said she was extremely grateful for the work of the city's volunteer force.
