My love of fashion stemmed from my mother's passion for it.

I came to New York in 1986. My father didn't think it was a good idea. I didn't know how I found it, but I went to Hunter College. I had no money and I couldn't speak English.

I wasn't a club kid. I wasn't an artist. I was just a foreigner, trying to soak it all up. I had quite a lot of fun.

I could never before say that I loved color or that I understood color. But Oscar de la Renta opened up a side of my brain.

I didn't know who Calvin Klein was, really. But Brooke Shields, we knew her from those incredible commercials - "There's nothing between me and my Calvins." I knew very little about American fashion then. I had no money, and Charivari was very educational to me. And Parachute. I was fascinated by those stores. I couldn't buy anything; I just went through the clothes.

I drape a lot. I cut. I have to touch. For me, it's almost impossible to start without that.

I like cold. I really like to go to cold towns. I love gray. I love winter.