On Design
On the process/progress:
The creative process and the techniques I use, play an important role in the development of my collection. The work that needs to be done to translate the concept is as important as the end result itself. I try to use fashion as my medium, and I try to study the numerous way one can look at and think of garments. I try to keep both concept and form/shapes in my mind while working on a collection and see how those two things interact with each other. Designing garments absolutely amazes me in many ways; I feel inspired by the medium itself. I feel the tendency to take it apart, like a little kid, that wants to see “what’s inside.”
I feel challenged by the bounderies of garments, and how far I can push them without losing touch with the reality of it and the wearability of the clothing itself. I try to work meticulously and research based, using an experimental approach. An approach that also provides the poetry of trying and failing. This is an essential part of my work. I want to leave traces of the making in my garments, referring to the proces and to myself on the other side of the garment. That’s why I also try to do as much manually as possible for now. As a designer you have to try to reach things not initially atainable, to be creative and find solutions.working on a vision that doesn’t yet exist, without having a clear idea of the possible outcome.
On wearability:
Not really the best spokesperson of this yet, I looked at my four years of training at the Academy of Antwerp, as a time to experiment and absorb. During those four years I tried to build the foundation of my work, where I want to keep on developing from. I do realize however that garments are meant to be worn. It is important to me to always use classical garments as a point of reference to start from. Being able to combine more experimental techniques, textures into basic classical garments is what makes clothing truly beautiful to me, without losing that authenticity. For “Medium’ my ultimate goal is to create a fabric that will hold the structure I want to achieve all on it’s own, without the help of tons of fusing and starch. So that you would be able to throw it in the washing machine, without it loosing it’s structure. That way I could make my collection more wearable. Wearability for me isn’t only about perfectly fitting trousers and shirts, it is also about experimental pieces that can be worn, washed, and lived in.On inspiration:
In general there are a lot of things and people I find to be inspiring. In all different fields, it doesn’t necessarily need to be fashion, it can also be art, design, even crafts, science, or literature. I look up to people who stay true to themselves, and really do what they love. That for me is inspirational. People who want to change something with what they do. People who don’t lose the childlike ability to believe they can still change something with what they do.
In particular I get inspired by art. I admire the work of Sol Lewitt, Richard, Serra, Donald Judd, Richard Long, Clyfford Still, Agnes Martin. In a way I like that for a viewer their sculptures and work really dominate the room or the environment. This is interaction fascinates me.
On fashion:
It is interesting that fashion is constantly evolving and ever-changing, but at the moment I feel it unnecessary how many collections there are. As much as I love fashion, I think that the emphasis is too much on the “fashion scene” these days, rather than on fashion design itself. I think it is important to highlight the fashion design process and really to re-evaluate garments by doing so.
I do not really like the idea of fast-pace fashion, with resort and pre-fall collections, with garments getting an even shorter life span. I do not think it is necessary. I hope to be able to contribute to fashion with a more timeless aesthetic. Taking also into account, the resources that we have, and the growing world population, we have no choice but to rethink the way we make garments, asking how to make them more sustainable. I think it is up to our generation to do something about this.
Alexandra Verschueren 2010