I spotted Marcel Rosenberg work at the European Fashion Award FASH 2019. Rosenberg was part of the finalists, and as soon as I entered the room I got attracted by his pieces. As he will say himself: “Fashion can be one of the most important tools for communication. It has no need of any spoken word.” Rosenberg work is based on social issues and he loves to let himself be inspired by all forms of art and literature. “Being a student at the University of Applied Sciences in Bielefeld gave me the opportunity to develop my ideas, to break new grounds and to deepen my handwriting. The Fusion of fashion, graphics, and photography allowed me to get the most intercultural view of creativity. My collections are a creative blend of the classic form of tailoring and alternative shapes.”
KALTBLUT: Hello. Welcome to KALTBLUT. Why have you decided to participate at FASHBerlin 2019?
Marcel Rosenberg: Hi! Thank you so much for having me! I participated at the FASH to get the opportunity to exchange ideas with all these creative people. I wanted to receive and give feedback and discover new inspirations for further development. The FASH-Weekend is always a great chance for graduates to get in touch with each other and to learn new things at the workshops.
KALTBLUT: Can you tell us something about the collection you presented at the FASHBerlin 2019? What was your inspiration?
Marcel: I presented a part of my graduate Master collection. My Inspiration is „the child in ourselves“ and the decision to either suppress being a child or to let it be present in our everyday life. The psychologist Jeffrey Jensen Arnett describes the time between 18 and 30 years as „Emerging Adulthood“. The phase between youth and adulthood is extending more and more in recent years. Today, entering the youth phase begins earlier than ever before. The development of sexuality is increasingly shifting forward, young people enter this phase about the age of twelve today. The transition to adult life automatically extends itself further and further backward. In the time between the age of 18 to 30, we decide which journey we want to go. It‘s the final farewell to the childhood: the first momentous decisions will be made – the opening in a new chapter in life. The Japanese subculture of the Bosozoku, as they stand rebellious against the establishment, is something that symbolizes a standstill of youth and was a big inspiration for the style of this collection. Developmental psychological aspects and various musical pieces by some Japanese, Korean and American musicians which are dealing with the theme of growing up, serve also as a source of inspiration for my creative work.
KALTBLUT: What kind of material did you use for the collection?
Marcel: I mainly used a white cotton twill. To get that kind of colors that I wanted, I dyed every fabric myself with screen printing techniques and colors. It was the perfect option for this collection. You get a handcrafted and some kind of “used look” for the fabrics. For transparency, I selected mainly silk chiffon.
KALTBLUT: What challenges did you face during the design process?
Marcel: The greatest challenge for me was to let the idea become a physical object. I am kind of a perfectionist and love to combine classic tailoring with new forms. It’s a challenge but also something I love.
KALTBLUT: How would you describe your self and your work?
Marcel: For me, Fashion is the easiest, most flexible way to express my statements. It can be the most striking form of expression without the need for any verbal acts. It’s not my intention to primarily create a certain aesthetic, rather then my aspiration is to tell a story through my work. I enjoy the process and the time to create a new collection which can give viewers and carrier their own space of interpretation. A mobile canvas, whose message can be carried into the world. It only lingers on a spot for a short time and moves like a shadow of people beyond all borders.
KALTBLUT: What would you say that is the biggest influence on your design process?
Marcel: My work questions social issues and I let myself get inspired by several forms of art, literature, and subcultures from all over the world. But my biggest influence is probably music.
KALTBLUT: If you had not become a fashion designer, what would you do instead?
Marcel: I already did some internships and worked part-time in an architecture office before I started my fashion studies. I think I would definitely have become an architect.
KALTBLUT: Who’s your dream client?
Marcel: That one is a tough question. I can’t really decide a dream client, but for me, it would be a dream come true, if I would see people in all kind of shapes and age on the street in my clothes.
KALTBLUT: What can we expect from you in the near future?
Marcel: Right now I am working on a new capsule collection and I am being part of a fashion collective which main focus is sustainability. I think this is so important right now!
KALTBLUT: Can we buy some of your pieces somewhere?
Marcel: You can follow my Instagram account and dm if there is interest. And you can expect a lot more, exciting projects this year – so keep your eyes open!
Contact:
www.marcelrosenberg.com
Instagram: @mr_vernie
Photographer is Raphael Helmut
Instagram: @raphaelhelmut
Models are Bjarne Wenzel
Instagram: @bjarnss
& Sean McLaughlin
Instagram: @seanmcla
