ODDA Conversations

Colombian homeware designer Natalia Criado has created a unique realm where the organicshapes and rich symbolism of her Colombian upbringing flawlessly merge with the harmonyand refinement of Italian craftsmanship. For Salone del Mobile 2025, she joins Taller Marmoand Thomas Zangaro Studio for an installation inspired by the artistic and playful flair of herhomeware art.The designer and the Italian label collaborated on The Celebration Kit, a cocktail set thatincludes Margarita glasses and an ice bucket featuring Criado’s recognizable shapes andTaller Marmo’s signature fringes—resulting in pieces that celebrate the art of movement andthe grace of celebrating.In conversation with ODDA Digital, Natalia Criado explores the distinctive forms thatconnect her with her Colombian roots and the Italian approach that defines her designphilosophy.

Some creative processes begin with research, references, and intent, while others begin with just sensation, with not knowing, and allowing yourself to be guided by it. In this conversation, the idea of scent unfolds not as a product, but as experience: something intimate, instinctive, and deeply human.Coming from a world shaped by storytelling, performance, and collaboration, Kevin Costner speaks about learning to trust smell without intellectualizing it; about landscapes, emotions, generosity, and moments that bypass logic altogether. What emerges is a reflection on vulnerability, influence, and the quiet confidence that comes from listening to your body rather than explaining it.

Alex Sánchez de Mora lives a life of contrasts. Between the rush of fashion weeks and the quiet of home, he has learned to move fluidly between intensity and calm. On one side, the thrill of travels, collaborations, and the creative energy of the industry. On the other hand, the grounding presence of Madrid, where his son Mateo—who just turned nine—reminds him of balance and perspective. A model, entrepreneur, and content creator, Alex first pursued a Bachelor of Business Administration, but his path soon expanded beyond traditional business. He worked as an assistant to renowned photographer Mario Testino, collaborated as a producer for retail brands, and later founded his own agency dedicated to management, art, and production. At the heart of it all, he is a storyteller who values authenticity, timeless aesthetics, and genuine connection. In this conversation with ODDA, he opens up about fashion, fatherhood, and the contrasts that continue to inspire him.

Mergim Shabani has more questions than answers. The model, content creator, and creative director avoids labels altogether, preferring instead to see himself as a lifelong student of fashion, social media, and life itself. This outlook is rooted in his background: born in Kosovo, raised in Vienna, and shaped by his studies in philosophy. In a world where fashion, identity, and creativity constantly intersect, Shabani has emerged as a figure defined by authenticity and passion. His approach combines aesthetics with a life philosophy: being strong, caring for others, learning from every experience, and cultivating relationships that go beyond mere status. On a day off in Vienna, surrounded by family, he sits down to talk. Behind his wavy hair hangs a vintage Pan American Airways poster, designed in 1940 by Paul George Lawler, reading “Fly to South Seas Isles.” It feels like more than a backdrop—a reminder that for Shabani, fashion is not just about clothing but about movement, roots, and connection. In this conversation, he reflects on fashion and culture as extensions of life itself — ways of learning, connecting, and remaining true to who you are.

Although he moved to Madrid just over a year ago, Francisco Faria takes every chance to return to Portugal, his home country. There, he reconnects with his roots—his mother’s family in Braga, his father’s in Porto—and with the authenticity that keeps him grounded despite the fast pace of his professional life. Speaking from his vacation apartment in Portugal, where two vintage tennis rackets he once found at a market in Thailand hang on the wall, Francisco reflects on a path that has been anything but linear. He first studied civil engineering, switched to marketing, and in 2013 was unexpectedly discovered through Facebook, launching a modeling career that has taken him from Dolce & Gabbana to his own ventures—Blue Avenue and Hurricane. Today, dividing his time between Porto and Madrid, Francisco dreams of new seasons in Paris or New York, trusting the universe to guide his timing.