Manuel as a kid was always interested in human beauty; Born in Guatemala in 1979 and being the youngest of three, his two older sisters and mother haveĀ always inspired him.
At age of 14 Manuel graduated from his first fashion school in his native Guatemala. Being still a teenager Manuel left the nest to study fashion in Milan and Florence.
After his experience in Italy and Guatemala Manuel decided to move to New York where he finished his study in tailoring at Parsons. While attending school started to work under Angel Sanchez.
In 2002 Agencies set Manuel up to work during the next years freelancing for many other designers and companies around New York such as: Narciso Rodriguez, Calvin Klein, Ralph Lauren, Sean John, DKNY, Tommy Hilfiger, Banana Republic, Gap, and many others. With this experience he decided to join strengths and start his company with partner Brian Levy and become mdlc & co., showing the first collection in 2005.
Manuel is always looking for ways to celebrate the human body his particular style and vision combines classic shapes with a modern twist and together creates a feminine straight-forward woman who lives a very busy social agenda and a masculine man who is not afraid to be sexy and exquisitely different.