Cristina Martín Blasi (Luxury Spain): “I like caviar, but what fascinates me are olives”

Cristina Martín Blasi (Barcelona, ​​1987) is the president of Luxury Spain, the Spanish Luxury Association, a non-profit entity that she founded in 2010 together with Princess Beatriz of Orleans and which brings together more than 150 companies linked to the sector. “I came to the association because one of my dreams is to promote the industry and the good products we have in Spain,” says this 37-year-old woman, passionate about Formentera, her 12-year-old son, contemporary art and olives. Question . How did it occur to you to found the association? Answer. I do it thinking above all about gastronomy. I have always traveled a lot since I was little, I have been very interested in culture, and I have always felt very Spanish. I didn't understand why excellent products weren't promoted. I began to investigate what was being done in countries like France and Italy and I contacted Princess Beatrice of Orleans. This is how Luxury Spain.P was born in 2010. What is a luxury in your life? A. For me luxury is time. It is having time to enjoy, to live, to experience, to take care of yourself and share with others. It can be something as simple as some fried eggs with potatoes, a glass of wine in the best company, traveling to the Maldives, seeing an incredible sunset in Formentera, which is my favorite place in the world, or going for a walk and eating. a picnic in El Retiro with your son. It is living the experiences and moments that give you a memory and that give you happiness.P. How do you have fun? What do you love? A. I love horse riding, although I no longer exercise and my son does this. I did it as a hobby. I stopped competing quite young and so I always wanted this dream to continue with my son. Horses are my passion. Although I travel a lot for work to promote the Spain brand, I continue to be fascinated by traveling. But my real hobby is collecting modern art, I love it. Since I was little my parents have always taken me to museums, I have always been a very curious person. In addition, I have a master's degree in mindfulness. And also, although it may seem silly, continue retraining and studying constantly.P. Do you practice mindfulness? A. I practiced it a lot and it helped me, it saved my life during covid. Unfortunately, afterwards I haven't had time to practice it seriously like before. It is a technique that you can practice even when you are with people at a meal. It is very important to listen to yourself and reflect.P. I deduce that you have stress.R. I have a lot of stress because I have a lot of responsibility. Apart from the association, for two years I have had a capital investment company for Spanish companies that want to invest outside Spain, especially in the Middle East. Many companies consulted me as I had contacts there and was related to several royal houses. Very few people know that I have started in this private branch. I try to manage stress in the best way. I am 37 years old, I started this when I was 22 and, in addition, I became a mother at 25. At first, it affected me a lot, so much so that I had a rare disease, three years after my son was born, in 2015, at an international fair, My body began to paralyze. My illness was Guillain-Barré syndrome – the immune system attacks the peripheral nerves. After that, it was very difficult for me to recover, with the help of professionals…that's why I decided later, in 2017, to do the master's degree in mindfulness. Until one day I realized that I had to relax and learn to be happy and enjoy every moment of my life.P. Did you need professional help? A. I never went to professional psychologists, I always resorted to alternative and natural therapies, because in the end control in life lies with oneself.P. Do you have expensive tastes? What would you say is the purchase you can't resist? A. What I like the most are watches and jewelry. Before buying a bag I prefer a limited edition book from Assouline and Tachen publishers. And, of course, contemporary art. Another of my pleasures or where I like to invest money is in well-being.P. What do you mean? A. All that is holistic treatments, massages, spas, because in the end your mind goes at a speed and your body has to follow you. It is very important to be connected. I recommend Las Caldas Villa Termal, in Oviedo. I try to go at least every two years.Q. Any favorite modern art author? R. There are two Spaniards that I love. One is Yago Hortal and another who inspired me a lot and I felt very bad about not investing because I was very young and did not have enough money is Okuda. If at that time a painting was 6,000 euros, now it is 300,000.P. She was the creator of the silent luxury concept. What does it mean? A. It's about enjoying life and going unnoticed. For me, this is the big trend. Many people associate it with not going with the logo, with sustainability, which is also good, but really in the end everything is linked.P. What is your favorite gastronomic product? A. I love the fuet, the cheese, I also love the Galician seafood, the Palamós prawns. There is something that fascinates me, that I ask for in all parts of the world, which are olives. They would be the first on the list.P. I thought you were going to tell me something more sophisticated.R. I like caviar, of course, but many people think that luxury is showing off the private jet, the private yacht all day long… which is also part of our life, but we are normal people. In the end it is passion that moves you, not money.P. What was the last trip you took for pleasure? A. To Italy, to Portofino, this August.P. What is your circle of trust? A. The family and then the person who has guided me a lot is my best friend Albert Garriga. And then, basically, I have childhood friends, but above all it is the people that I have had throughout my professional career, who think that I started very young, at 22 years old. Q. Is he happy? A. I believe that happiness has moments in life. Right now, after a big change that I have made personally in my life, I consider myself a happy person and, above all, I am a lucky person. That is very important, thanking life. Here you can consult the latest 'After work' interviews