Mijal Strahman, part of the third generation at Emintex, discusses her role in navigating the challenges of the fashion industry while emphasizing sustainability and inclusivity.

Mijal Strahman has been a significant figure at Emintex, a Córdoba-based textile company known for its seven-decade-long legacy in the fashion industry. Strahman has been formally involved with Emintex for a decade, but her ties to the company began much earlier. Reflecting on her upbringing, she stated, “I’ve been working at the company for 10 years, starting while I was still in university. But my connection with Emintex and fashion has been since I was born. I grew up among rolls of fabric, fashion shows, and campaigns,” she said in an interview with La Voz.

Emintex is a family-owned business, initiated by Strahman’s grandfather, Manuel, and succeeded by her father, Julio. Today, Strahman is part of the third generation, leading the company along with her siblings. Currently, three of the four siblings are active in the business, while the fourth previously modeled for the brand.

Strahman’s role at Emintex has evolved significantly since her introduction to the company, where she initially worked in marketing and production for the brand Abstracta. As of now, she oversees production and heads product design across four brands under the Emintex umbrella: Abstracta, Erre, Kickback, which focuses on children’s clothing, and AF Jeans, a brand with a 35-year history. She noted the inherent challenge of navigating both the national and global fashion markets, asserting, “Fashion has been very volatile in recent years. We used to design collections every six months… Today, the customer marks the trend.”

Adapting to market demands has required Emintex to shift its production approach. Strahman explained that while they still produce large collections for wholesalers, there is now a focus on shorter production cycles and capsule collections that allow for more immediate responsiveness to consumer preferences.

The EMA textile factory recently served as an innovative venue for a fashion show presenting collections for the Autumn/Winter 2025 season. Strahman described the event as an immersive experience designed to engage guests from the moment they arrived, simulating a journey aboard “Emintex Airways” with a thematic runway showcasing the latest trends.

Among the anticipated trends for the upcoming season, Strahman highlighted a color palette featuring chocolate and brown tones, burgundy, deep reds, and intense greens. Specific styles set to emerge include a boho aesthetic with rocker influences from Abstracta, along with a focus on denim for AF Jeans—characterized by various cuts and embellishments.

Inclusivity in size and representation also remains a paramount consideration for Emintex. Strahman affirmed their commitment to size diversity, stating, “Our garments go up to size triple XL…this is natural and necessary; it shouldn’t be a differentiator, but the norm.”

Emintex is also addressing sustainability concerns within the fashion industry. The company has initiated multiple eco-friendly practices, such as using an ozone washing system to conserve water and donating textile waste for reuse. Additionally, they are exploring a project with a local startup to recycle fabric waste into new textiles.

Strahman emphasized the need for the fashion industry to evolve toward greater responsibility, stating, “We are also focusing on timeless collections that transcend ephemeral trends. This will not only help reinforce our identity but also detach us from the fast fashion’s rapid pace.”

Source: Noah Wire Services