Civiles is a production and model management company based in the heart of Argentinia: Buenos Aires. Leaded by agency director
Picky Courtois, Civiles provides a great diversity of models - from tomboy-esque girls like Eugenia Vidal or
Carla Gebhart to high end beauties such as Luciana Marinissen (rather well known in the 90s) or Newface Yesica Novarino. And Picky offers a great selection of male models aswell, as the name
Nicolas Ripoll (who opened and closed the Prada Fall Show exactly one year ago and has meanwhile head prestigious apperances in magazines like Dazed Confused, Wallpaper, Vogue Homme and Velvet) should ring a bell in all of our minds by now. We're definitely anxious to see how the latest discoveries @ Civiles will do, during the following seasons, and are very pleased to give you a little insight in the agencies' working processes, the Argentinian market (plus some news on Carla Gebhart) now:
How did you get in the agency business?Around 2000 I was working as assistant for a photography and fashion production agency. I started to stop people that I found interesting down the street to do some tests without any kind of projection. Those tests ended up in hands of Levi’s and they called me to hire one of those finds. Then other jobs in fashion and advertising started to come. And there immediately appeared the offer of an agency in Paris to take some of their on stay models.
What makes your management stand out against other agencies?The main difference lies in our identity, which makes Civiles much more than a Model-Agency. It is a brand that includes multiple projects: we are a graphic production company, a trend seminar and a talent department. In each area we work on the premise of respecting human values and integrity. That is the way we treat our models, allies and clients, and that is also how we project us into the market.
Regarding collaborations with international agencies - with whom do you work together?In Paris we work very well with Viva, Ford, City, Bananas and Success. In Milano, with Why Not, Major and D’Men. In London we work with Models 1, Storm and Select and in New York with Wihelmina, DNA, Ford, Major, One and Click.
What can you tell us about your local market in Buenos Aires?Advertising is one of the most outstanding disciplines in Argentina. It generates a lot of money and jobs. During the year lots of international projects are developed here. The level of the production and realization is great. The on stay models work a lot. Based here, they work with professional partners in Brasil, Chile & Perú.
What are actually the key/slot bookings for a model to get into the business in the best way possible; high end campaigns, prestigious runway exclusives or high profile covers?Without any doubt, prestigious fashion shows generate great editorials and the option for the campaigns. That was what happened recently with our top models Carla Gebhart for Balenciaga and Nicolas Ripoll for Prada and a lot more.
How much of a model’s career is based on luck and how much does a carefully developed management count?Luck only works at the moment when the model is discovered and accepted by the right manager. From that moment on, it is all a matter of hard work. As happens in every field, the model must become a good professional to make the business be constant.
Do you know right away if a model “has it”? Has there ever been a girl that you weren't fully convinced of but she proved you totally wrong in the end?I can feel if a model “has it”. But what I can not do is telling if he or she is actually going to succeed in the business. Besides beauty, a model needs to have lots of other features to succeed: interest, intelligence, personal support, dedication, etc. I was always sure that each model that Civiles chose could do it. Fortunately, many of them did it even better than how I expected they would, and that is great.
There have been many controversies about models being too young, etc. What do you think is the best age to get started in the business?Civiles is really careful with the respect for the natural processes of growth of every model, so that they have no pressures. I think that eighteen is an appropriate age to make serious decisions about their career. Except a few cases, under that age they are not completely developed and the business pressure can confuse or disturb them.
We all know that commercial girls are the truth money grabbers in this industry, at least for short-term. What makes the high fashion division interesting to you, then?High fashion division is really good money, as good as commercial. The only problem is that it is not that easy to find out new faces with the conditions that this level requires. Especially in Argentina, where women are in general shorter that Europeans.
You're known for having an eye, how do you find your models?We make scoutings in every single part of Argentina. We have a working alliance with modeling schools and with production companies from all over the country. We also have scouters that go over big concerts, schools, discos and malls. The search is constant and it can be done at anywhere and in the most unusual way.
What is your development process for New Faces?The first thing we do is improving their look: hair, position and other details. Then we make photographs every day until they get trained and then the promotion begins. We show them to Editorial Photographers, to Brand Managers and to agencies from Paris and NYC. As soon as the first options appear, the new face is ready to become a success.
As model agent & manager, what is the most important role you need to do in order to help your models succeed?My greater commitment is building trust with every single person I work with. To my models I am a coach, a brother, a father and a friend. I seek to be a reference point, a kind of professional and emotional guide. I help them to understand the market and its movements, and to know the field where they are going to be for several years. The most important thing is teaching them how to use their heads.
As we are obsessed with Carla Gebhart, who quickly became our season's face, can you tell us what she has in store for us?Carla is studying in Cordoba, her native town. Her priority is finishing school. We have to be very careful with her agenda so that we can have her available for the next season of fashion shows. That is why we rejected offers from Vogue UK, Vogue Italy and Numéro.
Anyway, we assure that you will be able to see her in one of the best campaigns of the next seasson.
In the end: Who are your most promising diamonds?Our upcoming star is called Juliana Rossa. She is based in Paris, New York and Milano, and she is about to be the new Argentinian diamond. She is nineteen years old, 1.78 mts. tall and is the favourite of Sonia Rykiel, Marithé & François Girbaud and Limi Feu. In the other hand, next September, in a working alliance with the agency Viva from Paris, we are going to place Lorena Lenz into the business. She is another great promise.
Let's start with Victoria - as we're always a bit biased when it comes to redheads (always in their favour!), this stunner might be our favourite out of all Cat-signed newbies. Standing at 172cm, she might lack a bit of height, but awesome propotions & her intense yet withdrawn expression certainly make up for that. Curious about her body? You can see one full length image in HQ on our new tumblr account here.
Second girl to watch from the Cat company: Sophia - first thing to ring a bell - her resemblance to Toni Garrn and Vanessa Hessler.
Last girl to be featured is Lisanne -
