ODDA Conversations

Colombian homeware designer Natalia Criado has created a unique realm where the organic

shapes and rich symbolism of her Colombian upbringing flawlessly merge with the harmony

and refinement of Italian craftsmanship. For Salone del Mobile 2025, she joins Taller Marmo

and Thomas Zangaro Studio for an installation inspired by the artistic and playful flair of her

homeware art.

The designer and the Italian label collaborated on The Celebration Kit, a cocktail set that

includes Margarita glasses and an ice bucket featuring Criado’s recognizable shapes and

Taller Marmo’s signature fringes—resulting in pieces that celebrate the art of movement and

the grace of celebrating.

In conversation with ODDA Digital, Natalia Criado explores the distinctive forms that

connect her with her Colombian roots and the Italian approach that defines her design

philosophy.

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

Carlos

Fran

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.

When Carlos Canela speaks in Spanish, his words carry the warmth of the South — a leisurely, joyful cadence that instantly evokes Andalusia. Yet when we switch to English, a distinct British lilt reveals that Canela is just as local as he is international, the result of learning from British teachers at school. Born in Cádiz, on Spain’s southwest coast, he remained there until he was 18, when he moved to Madrid to pursue a degree in marketing. Now, bathed in midday light on the terrace of his family’s home in Sotogrande, on the Andalusian coast, the model and content creator appears on camera wearing a white T-shirt and wired headphones — effortlessly being himself. It’s a look that wouldn’t be out of place in his YouTube vlogs, where he shares his experiences in the fashion world and in his everyday life. In these videos, Carlos doesn’t shy away from reality: he reveals everything from the adrenaline before a show in Milan to the moments of solitude that can come with a schedule full of travel. In his conversation with ODDA, Canela speaks of his journey through fashion and social media, his vision of an ever-evolving industry, and the way fashion has given him a profound sense of belonging. For Canela, culture and beauty are not distant ideals but guiding forces — shaping his world, his work, and the distinct, effortless Mediterranean style he has come to embody.

Leah Thomas, known online as @Greengirlleah, is an environmentalist, writer, and founder of the nonprofit organization Intersectional Environmentalist. Leah rose to prominence in 2020 after her viral post calling for racial justice within environmentalism helped spark a global movement, and has since used her vast platform to advocate for climate, race, and social justice. She is the author of The Intersectional Environmentalist and the host of the Green Girl Crafts Club, where she continues to create joyful, inclusive spaces that reimagine what sustainability could look like for all communities.