One To Watch from Fashionclash Festival 2017! It is my pleasure to introduce you to young German designer Johanna Hehemeyer-Cürten and her MAFAD Graduation 2017 collection FREISCHWIMMER. The young designer won the CHAPEAU Magazine Talent Award 2017 last week in Maastricht. Congrats!! She opened her show with an amazing performance. Have a look on the photos below. I had a little chat with Johanna about her design, being a fashion designer and I also asked her the question: Does fashion makes sense?
Name: Johanna Hehemeyer-Cürten / Age: 23 / Hometown: Cologne / Menswear or Womenswear: Womenswear/unisex
KALTBLUT: Does fashion makes sense?
JHC: Yes, to me fashion makes sense if you enjoy it, including all steps: enjoying making fashion -with regard to working conditions-, enjoying wearing and enjoying watching fashion –in the streets or on stage.
KALTBLUT: Hello. Welcome to KALTBLUT. Why have you decided to participate at FASHIONCLASH Festival?
JHC: Fashionclash Festival invites to test the borders of fashion, it is open for various approaches towards it. To me it offered the possibility to present my graduation collection through dance, exploring the border between fashion and costume.
KALTBLUT: Can you tell us something about the collection you presented at the FASHIONCLASH Festival 2017? What was your inspiration?
JHC: My collection was inspired by the German term ”Freischwimmer“ – literally a swimming certificate at elementary level – that came to my mind during my daily swimming routine last summer.
I detected part of the figurative meaning of the term, which means that for me, it does not only refer to the certificate but also to freedom in its genuine sense because I felt free while enjoying swimming. The story behind is about finding a balance between freedom and safety. I have experienced how these two ideas on the one hand somehow contradict, but are interdependent with and essential to each other on the other hand.
KALTBLUT: What kind of material did you use for the collection?
JHC: I combined natural materials like cotton, terrycloth or alpaca wool with synthetic fibers like lycra.
KALTBLUT: What challenges did you face during the design process?
JHC: Finding compromises between my wish to work with ecological materials and the look and atmosphere I wished to create.
KALTBLUT: How would you describe your self and your work?
JHC: I see myself as a “hybrid artist“. Combining different arts to an overall picture is what fills me with pleasure.
KALTBLUT: What would you say that is the biggest influence to your design process?
JHC: I think music. The music I listen to creates the atmosphere of my work.
KALTBLUT: If you had not become a fashion designer, what would you do instead?
JHC: I would be a dancer or a bike courier
KALTBLUT: Who’s your dream client?
JHC: Grace Jones
KALTBLUT: What was the first item you have ever designed? And who was the lucky one to get it?
JHC: A little white creature wearing a green apron that I sewed for a friend who had to manage some bad situations at that time, to make him feel strong and happy.
KALTBLUT: What can we expect from you in near future?
JHC: I plan to take the ‘Freischwimmer’ on one more journey and make a short cartoon-like dance video.
KALTBLUT: Where can we buy your fashion?
JHC: I just graduated and don’t have a (web)shop yet. But it is always possible to send me an email to arrange something.
Follow:
www.instagram.com/johlemo
www.facebook.com/johanna.hehemeyercuerten
www.johanna-hehemeyer.com
Interview by Marcel Schlutt www.instagram.com/marcel_schlutt
photography: Team Peter Stigter www.instagram.com/teampeterstigter
