“I don’t want to reference things that are ephemeral. I want to talk about things that are timeless, like human values.”
What inspired the new collection? How does it continue/differ from your previous work?
For me, it’s always about evolution. I don’t set out to contradict myself. It’s about remaining a child, or retaining a naive, childlike outlook on life. It’s crucial for me as an artist, or a designer, to bring some lightness and hope – something positive and joyful.
Your new collection features some really provocative images – a phone case complete with shackles, the names ‘Matthew, Mark, Luke and John’ from the bedtime prayer ‘Black Paternoster’ and references to the Berlin Wall – what message are you trying to send with this collection? What reaction do you want to provoke in people, beyond hope?
The worlds of art and fashion really intrigue me, but the most interesting thing is to blend those two things together. For me, it’s about bringing up values that will transcend beyond the six month cycle of fashion. I don’t want to reference things that are ephemeral. I want to talk about things that are timeless, like human values. This collection is about contradictions. Even though I just spoke about positivity and joy, they are contrasted with things like the iPhone case or the Berlin Wall reference, which many would not consider positive symbols. It’s about doing something positive and joyful within today’s world.
“When I design, I have to make sure my pieces are Instagram-friendly. I have to work in a context where the image is being perceived for 5-10 seconds.”
What were you trying to say with the phone case?
It’s about phones becoming part of our bodies, that’s how I see it. It’s not necessarily negative, just a fact of our lives now. We are shackled to our phones. They are usually in front of us when we walk – phones lead us in very real and metaphorical ways.
Have phones changed your creative process in any way?
They have changed everything. I was born in 1988, so I am old enough to remember a time before phones. They have changed fashion immensely. When I design, I have to make sure my pieces are Instagram-friendly. I have to work in a context where the image is being perceived for 5-10 seconds. It has to make an impact and linger in people’s minds to create a response. I try to create something that will resonate in that space.