Oriol Elcacho (Barcelona, 1979) is one of the most internationally recognized models. He lives off his physical appearance, but his 24 years of career and experience have allowed him to develop other more creative and supportive projects. The last one was with the men's fashion brand Silbon, of which he is the image. “I had the concern of doing something creative and supportive and I mentioned it to Pablo López, the CEO of the firm, who agreed. We decided to create a Mediterranean-style capsule collection inspired by my favorite summer clothes, which I have kept for years. And since we are both parents, 10% of the sales have been allocated to Save the Children,” explains Oriol Elcacho in the Silbon store, in Barcelona (Tuset, 1), where the total proceeds donated to the NGO have been presented. dedicated to childhood.
The Oriol The organization will invest it in Spain to combat bullying, cyberbullying and internet protection.
Oriol Elcacho hopes to be able to carry out more initiatives like this “in which I can express my concerns and everything I have learned as a model, a profession that has been stereotyped as frivolous and although I do not want to be the standard bearer of anything, I do not think there is more frivolity than in other sectors.” Accustomed to posing for the camera, photography has become one of his greatest hobbies, which he shares with his wife, fellow model Davinia Pelegrí. “It's something we've talked about for the future, being able to work behind the camera. I also love drawing, writing, cinema or music.” And he adds, “although I like clothes, combining them or cutting them up, a fashion brand needs a business part, and I'm not much of a numbers guy.”
Oriol Elcacho studied international trade at the university. He had never thought about working as a model, much less that he could make a living from it. “At that time, the most famous was Mark Vanderloo, but he was unattainable. He was not a reference.” In 1999, they convinced Oriol to sign with an agency and his career began: “He worked mainly in Barcelona and Madrid until he made the international leap as the image of Ralph Lauren and Bulgari and was on marquees all over the world.” He laughs and comments that he owes it all to his nose: “It's my characteristic feature and what defines me, although functionally it's a disaster because I snore a lot.”
At 44 years old, he is still the image of Ralph Lauren, in addition to Silbon, Rabat and a Swedish shirting brand. “I see myself as more confident and better because age and experience transmit values and beauty beyond youth.” And she considers that it is “unbearable the social pressure to which women, especially, are subjected to comply with beauty standards, associated with youth, because beauty has a very long journey.”
5 years ago he married Davinia Pelegrí (Lleida, 1982) in Italy, whom he met walking in the Canary Islands in the first edition of the Moda Cálida swim catwalk. “We have been together for 17 years and it is an advantage that we are both models, because we have traveled together for work and have even starred in campaigns. “It's cool, that after work you can be with your partner.” They have lived in New York, then in the Gràcia neighborhood of Barcelona and now they reside in Girona. “We wanted stability thinking about having children and Girona is a very beautiful city where we can go to school on foot. Plus Davinia's parents live nearby.” The couple has two children, Simón, 3 years old, and Violeta, 1.
“Davinia is the one who is most dedicated to them, because the children's first year is very intense, so for her it has been a break from work. When I have to travel for work, I am away as much as possible, because we need each other and we don't want to abuse the grandparents. We want to spend as much time with our children because we know that it is a stage that will not return,” she says.
When asked what he is like as a father, he answers, “I would like to be a loving father, because children only ask for affection and for you to dedicate time to them.”
