IN CONVERSATION WITH BRUNO CASANOVAS FROM NUDE PROJECT

“In many ways, it still feels like two students trying to turn an idea into reality.“ In Conversation with Bruno Casanovas

A business fairytale straight from the books: Bruno Casanovas and Alejandro Benlloch met while studying and decided to start their own brand from a student dorm room with a starting investment of €600 in 2018.

Fast forward to 2023, and the company has grown into a US$30 million-revenue business. In 2026, they report 11 stores across Europe and over 200 employees.

Nude Project is a prime example of how a loyal community can become a brand’s greatest asset. Rather than simply selling clothing, the brand has built a culture that encourages its audience to feel like part of something bigger. Positioned in the streetwear fashion segment, it primarily targets Gen Z.

We sat down with Co-Founder and Creative Director Bruno Casanovas to hear more about the brand’s story and what lies ahead.

LEONIE KAMPEN: How does the brands origin, Barcelona, influence Nude Project and your designs?

BRUNO CASANOVAS:

Barcelona is part of our DNA because it’s one of the places where Nude Project was born.

Everything started in a very organic way, between student residences in Barcelona and Madrid, when Álex and I were trying to build something of our own with very limited resources but a huge amount of ambition.

More than influencing a specific collection or aesthetic, Barcelona shaped the way we understand creativity. It’s an open-minded, restless city that’s deeply connected to art, music, and urban culture. That combination of freedom and ambition is still present in everything we do today.

Ultimately, Nude Project was born from that energy of creating something from scratch with your friends, turning a passion into a real project. It’s also about proving that a new way of understanding fashion and creativity can come from Spain and resonate globally.

LK: What was important for you when building this brand, that you never want to disregard no matter the success?

BC:

Authenticity. Without a doubt. From day one, we knew we didn’t want to create just another clothing brand. We wanted to build something with soul, a project capable of inspiring people to pursue what they’re truly passionate about.

Growth, sales, and international expansion are important, of course, but they can never come at the expense of our identity. What we never want to lose is the genuine connection we have with our community, the honesty with which we tell our story, and that feeling of building something with a real purpose behind it.

If we ever lost that, we would lose the most valuable thing Nude Project has.

LK: Has your success affected yours and Alejandros friendship? Or does it still sometimes feel like two students realizing their vision?
“I think our friendship is actually one of the reasons why Nude Project works.“

BC:

I think our friendship is actually one of the reasons why Nude Project works. Álex is not only my business partner; he’s my best friends and someone who complements me perfectly. We share a very similar vision for where we want to take the brand, but we each bring different strengths to the table. He has an incredible strategic mindset, and that balance has been essential to our growth.

Of course, the responsibilities today are much greater and the company is infinitely more complex than when we started. But honestly, in many ways, it still feels like two students trying to turn an idea into reality.

And I like that it still feels that way because it constantly reminds us where we came from and why we started.

LK: You titled your instagram „public journal”. What led to that change and does it still take a lot of courage to stick to it?

BC:

The idea of a “public journal” comes from something very simple: showing the process, not just the outcome.

We live in a time when people often only see the polished version of things. What has always interested me most is everything that happens behind the scenes—the doubts, the mistakes, the uncertainty, and the lessons that come with it.

That’s why I use Instagram almost like an open diary. It’s a way of sharing not only the successes but also the reflections and challenges that are part of the journey. And yes, it still takes a certain amount of courage because being genuinely vulnerable is never easy. But that’s exactly where the value lies. I believe people connect much more with honesty than with perfection.

LK: How did you build a community this passionate?

BC:

By listening.

From the beginning, we understood that community couldn’t simply be a result of the brand, it had to be the center of the brand.

We’ve never seen the people who support us as customers. We see them as part of the project.

That’s why we try to involve them in everything we do, share the process, listen to their opinions, and create experiences where they can truly live the brand firsthand.

That happens through our collections, but also through events, podcasts, listening parties, store openings, and initiatives like the Nude Tour, which allowed us to meet our community in person across different cities. I think passion comes when people feel they’re part of something bigger than a clothing brand.

LK: Do you think people buy into the clothes or the lifestyle/community behind them?

I think it is both, but the emotional part is very important. People buy the clothes because they like the product, the design and the quality, but they also connect with what the brand represents. Nude Project is not only about fashion. It is about a lifestyle, a mindset and a community of people who want to do things in their own way. The clothes are the visible part, but behind them there is a message of freedom, creativity and authenticity.

What do they like about you from any other clothing brand?

BC:

I think what makes Nude Project different is that people feel there is something real behind the brand. From the beginning, we did not want to create only clothes; we wanted to create a universe, a story and a community.People connect with the fact that we show ourselves as we are, that we share the process and that we create experiences beyond the product. The clothes are important, but what makes the brand special is the attitude behind them: authenticity, creativity and the freedom to live in your own way.

LK: What are you currently working on?

BC:

Summer is always one of the most exciting times of the year for us. We’re currently working on several international projects, including something related to the upcoming Football World Cup that we’re very excited about.

At the end of the month, we’ll also host the third edition of the Nude Project Mansion, one of the most special moments for the brand. It’s an opportunity to bring together inspiring people from different creative worlds, strengthen relationships, and continue building the community that sits at the heart of Nude Project.

Alongside that, we’re focused on upcoming collections, international expansion, and new creative collaborations.

LK: Many brands open stores. You created a space with a piano, photobooth, arcade games and other unexpected details. What experience did you want people to have when walking into the Berlin store?

BC:

Honestly, we just asked ourselves: what would we want to find if we walked into a store that wasn’t ours? None of that was random. We want people to walk in and forget for a second that they’re in a shop. That they stay longer than they planned, discover something unexpected, leave having experienced something they didn’t see coming.
Berlin deserved its own thing, it’s a city that’s serious about culture and about spaces that actually mean something. If people start using our stores as meeting points, as places to just hang out and spend time, that’s when we know we got it right.
LK: Can you already tell us something about the fall/winter designs? Colours, patterns, designs..?

BC:

We can’t reveal too much just yet, but I can say it’s going to be a very special collection. For our September drop, we’ve been exploring a deeper connection with the urban soul of streetwear.

The palette is built around refined neutral tones, elevated with accents of pink and khaki that bring warmth and character to the collection.

Graphically, we’ve drawn inspiration from the world of street art, with designs that reference stencil techniques, spray-dyed finishes, and the raw energy of concert posters. We’ve also been experimenting with garment dye treatments across bottoms, knitwear, and hoodies, creating unique textures and lived-in finishes that make each piece feel distinctive.

One of the standout and most innovative pieces in the collection is our reinterpretation of the classic MA-1 bomber jacket. It features a boxy fit and a reversible construction, with a knitted interior blend that brings together functionality, comfort, and craftsmanship in a way that feels uniquely Nude. Beyond specific colours, graphics, or silhouettes, what matters most to us is that every collection tells a story and evokes an emotion. This one captures a particularly authentic expression of urban culture while staying true to the design, quality, and storytelling that define Nude Project.

LK: Where do you want to take the brand in future? What can we expect from Nude Project?

BC:

Our ambition is to continue building Nude Project as something much bigger than a fashion brand.

We want to create a complete universe where every touchpoint makes sense: the product, the stores, the content, the events, and the community. Everything should feel connected and part of the same vision.

We also want to continue expanding internationally, especially across Europe, while staying true to the essence that got us here in the first place.

In the future, you can expect better products, unexpected collaborations, increasingly immersive experiences, and an even stronger creative vision. The goal remains the same as when we started: to inspire a generation to live through passion and to prove that a cultural brand with global impact can be built from Spain.

„We want to create a complete universe.“

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