Sonja Schödel, Karel van Laere and Daniel van Hauten
1. Please introduce yourself to our readers. (Who are you, where do you come from and what is your field of specialization?)
My name is Karel van Laere, I was born in The Hague, The Netherlands on 26-03-1988.
2. Where did you study and when did you graduate?
I graduate this year as a theatrical performer from the Theatre Academy of Maastricht.
1. Please introduce yourself to our readers. (Who are you, where do you come from and what is your field of specialization?)
My name is May Bernardi and I was born in 1986 in the southwest of Germany.
I just graduated in fashion design from the University of Applied Sciences, Trier. During my studies I gained experience, working for “Anntian”, Berlin and the fashion department of “Liebling” magazine. I’ve also studied at the Academy of Art and Design HGK, Basel in Switzerland for one year.
1. Please introduce yourself to our readers. (Who are you, where do you come from and what is your field of specialization?)
My name is Elvira ‘t Hart and I’m 23 years old. I graduated in 2011 from the Rietveld Academy in Amsterdam in Fashion Design.
2. Where do you get your inspirations from?
A lot of inspiration comes from my own drawings. There is no real inspiration when I draw, mostly I draw just for the sake and love of drawing. Occasionally I’m really ‘designing’ while I draw or depicting a design that’s already in my mind.
Sometimes I see a drawing I made weeks ago without any purpose. After my initial surprise that I made it myself there's a sense of fascination. From there it grows into a new design or print.
1. Please introduce yourself to our readers. (Who are you, where do you come from and what is your field of specialization?)
My name is Evelyn Lebis and I’m Dutch. At the age of 6 I started classical ballet and contemporary dance for the Palais des Beaux Arts in Brussels.
I obtained my BA in fashion at the Willem de Kooning Art Academy in Rotterdam. Throughout my education I explored textiles and yarn properties in collaboration with the Audax Textiles museum in Tilburg.
My Master’s course at the Swedish School of Textiles in Boras, Sweden opened up my knowledge towards wearable technology for performance art with a specialization in Light integrated Jaquard knits and textile sensors sourced through the human body.
Where did you study and when did you graduate? I studied at fashion & design at AMFI- and I graduate in June 2009.
What inspires you as a designer? The human body inspires me in the first place: the movements of the body and how to use and shape unusual materials as a body adornment. Additionally, in nature you can find beautiful shapes and colors, Im in love with color pallets, combining the right unusual colors together can define a whole new concept.
Where did you study and when did you graduate? I graduated from Konstfack College of Arts Crafts and Design in Stockholm, from where I have a master degree in textile. Before that I went to the clothing design program at Novia University of Applied Sciences in Turku, Finland.
What inspires you as a designer? Imperfection, ambivalent feelings and awkwardness.
Who is your favorite designer/artist? Why? Louise Bourgeoise, mainly for her sculpting.
What can you bring to FASHIONCLASH Maastricht 2011? Unwanted body shapes, exclusively handmade to enter the world of fashion.
Previews of the collection that Minna will show during FASHIONCLASH Maastricht 2011
Since you are participating in both are your works for the show and for the exposition going to be somehow related to each other? The collection on the catwalk is based on the shapes and the atmosphere in the film shown in the exhibition. That is how I usually start my work - by capturing a subject trough sculpting, photos and installations, which then turns into show pieces, to in the end become more wearable, producable garments. What is to be shown at FASHIONCLASH is all about the flesh, the fat and the transience of the human body.
"Intimately Social" (2007) by Minna Palmqvist
What do you expect from the FASHIONCLASH Maastricht 2011? I expect a creative environment where fashion is not all about trends and shopping, but a phenomena worth discussing and digging deep into.
How did your experience with fashion started? When did you decide to be a fashion designer/artist? Growing up on a Finnish island (Åland) I had no idea you could actually be a fashion designer for real. I loved clothes and made a lot of my own garments as a teenager, and drew millions of fashion illustrations on my room. When it was time to go to university my sister thought I should apply for design school. First I thought it sounded so superficial, and attended a semester of gender studies at Gothenburg University before I finally dared to apply and stand for my passion. And now I couldn't have imagined doing anything else!
What are your goals concerning your career? What are your ambitions? Where do you see yourself in the future? I want to find a way to take my designs into sustainable production, as a complement to the hand made pieces and art installations I work with now. I want to find some good people to work with who share my vision, and be able to actually live from doing what I do.
