Constantine Menendez and the label presented by Köswhich contribute to the stage wardrobe for Rodrigo Cuevas, with Yolanda Gonzalez closely involved as the creative partner backstage. If Cuevas’s music evokes the destruction and ritual of traditional folklore, Köswho’s designs chart a parallel path through fashion. For the new tour, Cuevas wears two ensembles created specifically for the event by the designer born in 1976 in Avilés, a trained psychologist and director of a geriatrics center based in Pillarno (Castrillón), where his workshop operates. The lineup splits into two teams, red and black, aiming for a festive and buoyant image that nods to tradition without replicating past stage costumes, while incorporating the latest fashion trends.
The collaboration began with an offer from Constantino and Yolanda. Rodrigo then enriched the project, drawing on his personal creative and aesthetic vision. The artist and graphic designer also played a pivotal role in shaping the concept alongside Ricardo Villoria, the artistic director for Cuevas’s most recent concert tour, Manual de peregrinaje.
Constantino Menéndez explains each of the two looks used by Rodrigo Cuevas throughout the show. The red ensemble is a strappy jumpsuit that follows a current trend toward flared trousers, paired with a black look that makes a bold impact. The outfit is a lycra-velvet overall with silver appliqués, and fitted organza sleeves—sheer yet sturdy. The intention was to achieve voluminous sleeves with a hint of seventies aesthetics, recalling bell bottoms seen on fashion runways. The inspiration blends icons like Elvis, Raffaella Carrà, and ABBA, among others.
salute to tradition
The design team also sought ways to greet the tradition that has long defined their work. This is expressed in two directions. One is a vest layered over the red look, featuring a traditional cut with a collar that appears worn and cropped. The vest mirrors traditional costume silhouettes but is covered with sequins at the neck and neckline, adding a contemporary sparkle.
There is also a plan to incorporate a touch of local craftsmanship into the red ensemble. The jacket brooches are influenced by Asturian llanisca costume elements. These brooches—reminiscent of small hanging pins made with jet glass—are meant to evoke the distinctive pingos while remaining festive. For those familiar with the region’s heritage, the accessories signal a nod to ancestral dress while staying firmly on stage and contemporary.
The second tour look offers variations on the same stylistic principles. The black ensemble consists of four pieces. Rather than a single jumpsuit, it features trousers that slim the hips and calves, rendered in a black sequined fabric with a bell-bottom silhouette for dramatic movement. A see-through lace shirt is worn over the base, and a black elastic faux-leather jacket with Llanisca-inspired lines provides a theatrical edge. The collar is omitted, and the neck is wrapped with a velvet ribbon. A leather corset with black velvet edging completes the look, while tassels at the sleeve seams add mobility and stage presence, giving the whole outfit a rock-inflected swagger.
Menéndez is also credited as the creator of the busgosu costume, the faun from Asturian mythology seen in Rodrigo Cuevas’s video for Casares, a track from Manual de peregrinaje. The costume required a custom setup to simulate ram legs and an orthopedic helmet tailored to support the mythological horns. The process highlights the meticulous, patient work that characterizes the designer’s practice, especially in an industry that often favors rapid outputs. The slow, deliberate approach stands as a core value, prioritizing sustainable materials and thoughtful craftsmanship over mass production. The ethos emphasizes ecological materials, careful sourcing, and a return to a craftsman’s rhythm rather than the quick churn of modern fashion cycles. The Kös brand already has orders on the books through the summer of 2024, reflecting a steady demand for this thoughtful approach to stage wear and performance identity.