From El Verger, through international competitions and expressing her creativity on musical stages, Rosa Gasent has built her own path in the world of fashion. With her brand Devol Studio, she is committed to sustainability, upcycling and diversity, moving away from mass production to create unique pieces with history.
From participating in Miss Intercontinental in Sri Lanka to making her way as a designer across the country, her evolution has been anything but conventional.
From beauty pageants to creating her own brand
Rosa's time at Miss Intercontinental opened her eyes to a whole new world. "It was a very nice experience, but my curves didn't fit into the canons of a fashion catwalk," she explains. She knew that, even if she didn't have a chance as a model, she wanted to pursue a career on the catwalk in some way. "My grandmother was the one who taught me how to sew, and without her, I would never have been interested in fashion."
This desire led her to study Fashion Design at the EASD in Valencia. Her Final Degree Project, Until further notice, God willing —words with which his grandmother always said goodbye—, he aimed to tell his story. With the support of his teachers, this project became the inspiration to create his firm, Devol Studio. «My internship manager, creator of Visori Studio, who also does photography, upcycling, but in a more intense, more brutal way, has been the one who has inspired me the most in my brand and continues to do so day after day.
Today, she has a small workshop in her grandmother's house in El Verger, where she brings her designs to life. "My workshop is a table, my sewing machine and little else. I have lots and lots of clothes from people who no longer wear them, because they are too small or have stains, etc. But with clothes with 'stains' or dirt, you can make something new and beautiful."
This week he has been in Madrid helping his friends in the showrooms, in the backstage and in the assembly of Madrid Fashion Week, collaborating with Keperezaxiko and Alineo Studio. But this is not her first connection with the event: in the 2024 edition, Rosa Gasent was one of the 14 finalists of Allianz EGO, the platform that promotes emerging talent at MBFWMadrid. “It is much less stressful to help others than to have all the responsibility of the brand,” she says. Even so, the experience is helping her learn what to do and what to avoid in her next catwalks and Fashion Weeks.
Rosa is very happy not to live in the capital. For her, her town, the sea and the mountains are a constant source of inspiration. “There is less competition here. Of course, in small towns people judge you more by how you dress. Sometimes they stare at me a lot or make a comment, and I always say: “If I didn’t dress so exaggeratedly, you would go crazy with my friends in Madrid.” And the fact is that, in big cities, there has always been much more freedom of style.
Awareness and inclusion
For Rosa, investing in sustainability is not a trend, but a necessity. “The fashion industry is one of the most polluting in the world, and we cannot continue to look the other way,” she says. With this idea, Devol Studio was born, a firm that seeks to give a second life to clothing, reusing materials and creating unique pieces that challenge the “use and throw away” mentality.
But her commitment goes beyond sustainability; inclusion is also a fundamental pillar of her brand. “Fashion should represent all people, regardless of age, body or skin color,” she says. And that is reflected in her collections, where diversity is not a marketing strategy, but a reality that seeks to tell authentic stories. An example of this is the participation of one of her models, a drag queens, actress, curvy and 40 years old, who is a real inspiration for Rosa Gasent.
When fashion takes the stage
Another key facet of her career is her connection with the The musicShe has worked with artists from the Marina Alta region, such as Sandra Monfort, Abril, and Quinto, as well as with more established names, including Chanel, Belén Aguilera, and Fusa Nocta. Her designs have also graced major stages, such as the Red Bull Battles. “Working with people from my region is special; you can tell we come from the same place. It all started with Abril, who liked my designs, and from there, the Word of mouth "It worked its magic. It's a very beautiful thing," says Rosa.
Her relationship with Chanel began when she did her internship as a stylist, participating in the cover of justmo before the artist was selected for Eurovision. “Seeing how she has grown and how she started has been very nice,” she recalls.
Her work ranges from creating pieces from scratch to offering ready-made garments for artists to choose from. “Fashion in music is brutally important. Before, it was given less weight, but now an artist’s image is part of their identity,” she explains.
As a novelty, Rosa has recently collaborated with Lola Indigo for the costumes of the next edition of The voice Kids on 3 Antenna.
Between sustainability and “eco-posturing”
In a world dominated by fast fashion, where major brands produce more but with lower quality, Rosa champions a completely opposite model: personalized, high-quality pieces with a story. But is the society really prepared for this change?
“People are becoming more aware, but there is still a lot to do,” she admits. And although giants like Inditex have launched “sustainable” lines, Rosa is skeptical. “I want to believe that it is not just marketing, that there really is a change,” she says firmly.
Another big challenge is the accessibility of sustainable fashion. “It shouldn’t be a luxury,” she says. That’s why initiatives such as second-hand shops and the upcycling are gaining more and more ground. “It’s not just a trend, it’s the future,” he says.
The future of Devol
With Devol Studio, Rosa wants to continue exploring new ways of creating impactful fashion. “My goal is to continue telling stories through clothes,” she says enthusiastically.
For those who dream of following in his footsteps, especially those who come from small towns and feel that the road is difficult, he has a clear message: "Don't give up. Work hard, believe in your vision, and don't be afraid to stand out."
Because if Rosa Gasent has shown anything, it is that fashion does not depend on where you come from, but on where you want to go.
