On the occasion of the upcoming Berlin Fashion Week our friends from Style.de met our co-founder Cathy Boom for an interview and chatted about her fashion week must-haves etc. Read her replies here (only in German).
Also, The renowned German online magazine ArtSchoolVets featured our latest project “In a Creative Dialogue – Robot Koch x Sabrina Theissen for IWISHUSUN” - a cooperation including a track, three photos and a video which were created by two of our friends, the composer and music producer Robot Koch and the photographer Sabrina Theissen. Together they took a look at the topic of sight, which IWISHUSUN has dedicated its work to. Head over to ArtSchoolVets to read the entire article (only in German).
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Sabrina Theissen
photographer – Berlin
Look for the name behind the photos in lala Berlin’s latest lookbooks. Check out who is responsible for various photographic series at many of our favourite print magazines, among them German VOGUE, Sleek, Achtung, Interview, L’Officiel Hommes, Indie and I Love You Magazine. The name they all have in common? Sabrina Theissen. The highly talented fashion photographer, who is based in Berlin, where she studied photo design, has built up quite a reputation over the past years. Thanks to her sensual yet conceptual way of creating an image, her unique eye driven by natural beauty and light, Sabrina’s photos can be easily identified – whether in the above mentioned magazines, in the context of lala Berlin’s collections (read Leyla Piedayesh’s interview with IWISHUSUN here) or working for other clients like Odeeh, Achtland, Hugo Boss, Closed and others.
We think Sabrina Theissen is a major talent and we love working with her. Before we show you the results, we are very happy to introduce you to Sabrina’s work and thought processes by sharing her interview:
You are a photographer and therefore sight must be a very important sense to you. What other sense couldn’t be missed in your life? Why?
Hearing. By listening to music it’s easily possible to dream yourself to any place you’d love to be.
What is your vision for your personal work?
To be honest to myself and to stay authentic in my way of showing what I’m adoring.
You have specialised in fashion photography but is there any other area that you still want to explore?
The more I get into the topic the more I’m exploring it. I’m also very interested in trying out new ways of seeing, showing beauty in another context and to realise projects on my own again, without a large team in the background.
Your personal opinion: what makes a good (fashion) photograph?
It should appeal to you in some way: whether because it makes you smile, leads you into a parallel world, touches you aesthetically or irritates you.
Looking through the camera is almost synonymous with the act of photographing. How does your normal sight differ from your personal perspective through a camera?
Not that much, I guess. It doesn’t make a difference if I’m holding a camera in my hands or not. This machine is just the way to visualise what I’m seeing.
What is the most beautiful thing you ever saw?
My newborn niece.
Sunrise or sunset – what do you prefer?
Hard to decide. Both events are so incredibly beautiful and full of metaphors like hope, recommencement, transition… I do love both.
What would you like to see more often?
People smiling on the street.
What is your tactic for making the world a better place?
By starting to change things in my own life which I’d also love to become real in a bigger context.
When was the last time you gave back and what did you do?
I just did some craft work for my mother’s project. Once a year she organises a great market together with other women, raising money for autistic children and a women’s shelter.
But this is not the only chance Sabrina Theissen jumps at to show her vivid interest in the world and her fellow human beings: the generous photographer also supports IWISHUSUN not only by giving us an interview but by being involved in a new exciting project which we will showcase very soon. That’s why Sabrina’s picture for IWISHUSUN is still in the making and we can’t wait to show you the result. Stay tuned!
In the meantime we present a selection of her photographic work below:
“From Vancouver to LA” series:
Commercial work:
Achtland Spring/Summer 2014
Sleek, “Brumous”
Sleek, “Insight”
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When everyone is going fast, Tilda Swinton slows down. The Oscar-winning actress has come together with fashion curator Olivier Saillard to present her latest project: “Eternity Dress” – a very special new, ballet-like performance in Paris which follows the design of one dress, made directly on Tilda Swinton’s body, from the measuring up to the creation of the pattern, from the cut to the sewing together.
During their fifty-one-minute performance starring which was sponsored by Chloé and staged at the École des Beaux-Arts as part of the annual French Festival d’Automne, Saillard and Swinton explored the art of dressmaking. Instead of mass production, high speed and an ongoing pressure on everyone working in there, the renowned fashion director, author and poet as well as Tilda Swinton thereby pointed the way to an alternative way of thinking and acting in fashion. These are not equal circumstances but what is shared at the heart of them all is the act of designing and creating which is a skill that often gets lost in the muddle when we talk about fashion. Inspired by a 1950s method found in the museum’s collections, “Eternity Dress” reminiscences about the art of true creation, initiates an archeology of the craft and resonates with the history of fashion.
While IWISHUSUN aims to change our handling and understanding of fashion and to create a win-win-situation that gives you a great product and at the same time saves another person’s eyesight, Olivier Saillard takes up another unusual position by creating a contemplative moment within the fast pace of fashion today. Learn more about the performance “Eternity Dress” here.
Photo: Olivier Saillard/ Tilda Swinton – Eternity Dress. © Vincent Lappartient.
Friend of IWISHUSUN and Milan-based multi talent Marcelo Burlon just released his new video which visualises his upcoming Spring/Summer 2014 collection. Inked model Norman Theuerkorn stood in front of the camera to showcase a much wider collection than the past ones while the short film was directed by Marco De Giorgio. Check out the video here:
Read Marcelo Burlon’s interview with IWISHUSUN here and get your own Marcelo Burlon x IWISHUSUN Limited Edition T-Shirt here. With every T-shirt sold, in cooperation with our partner ORBIS a cataract eye operation will be financed in Dhaka, Bangladesh.
Pic: Screenshot.
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Founder of Berlin-based fashion label lala Berlin and a friend of IWISHUSUN, Leyla Piedayesh looks amazing in our logo tee. Don’t miss to check out her interview here!
Get your own IWISHUSUN tee here and finance a pair of glasses for a school child in Bangladesh through the National Childhood Blindness Project (NCBP) from ORBIS, true to the motto “Buy a T-Shirt, improve a child’s sight”.
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Silas Adler
Designer & Founder of Soulland – Copenhagen
Danish menswear brand Soulland has always impressed us: clear and simple and deeply devoted, on the one hand, to a distinctive Scandinavian aesthetic. On the other hand they always manage to be playful and sporty, enjoying experimenting with patterns, materials, cuts, looks but also presentations and collaborations. Their enthusiasm for off-the-wall projects has even led to the production of an own stamp in partnership with the Danish Post, to a collaboration with Playstation, to a whole collection dedicated to Barbar The Elephant and to a virtual runway presentation via smartphone. Soulland is without doubt one of the few brands that have been taking menswear to a whole new level over the last couple of years, designing collections that are innovative and classic at the same time.
Soulland’s head designer Silas Adler founded Soulland in 2002 when he was only 17. What started as a small brand specialised in printed T-shirts and run by a young, passionate skateboarder without a concept, much expertise or aim, has now grown into the unique menswear brand of today. “With knowledge came a cause and with the cause came the concept,” as Silas once said in an interview. “But my ambitions grew and I wanted to launch a full menswear collection. I had to learn everything from scratch and these things take time. But for me it was the right way and the only way to learn it.”
As a self-taught designer and businessman, as a creative mind who clearly disregards genre boundaries, Silas Adler is our first official Danish supporter. We are very happy to welcome him as a friend of IWISHUSUN.
Soulland stands for modern menswear, but also for experiments regarding the presentation and multidisciplinary collaborations. What is your vision as a creative person for your own work?
Never be secure, never give up and never stop being curious.
What is more important for you, the sense of feel or the sense of sight?
Everything is linked in my life.
Which thing or location in Copenhagen do you love to see everyday?
My home! That’s where my family is.
In Scandinavia the summer solstice is a big celebration – the Danes celebrate Sankt Hans Day on the 23rd of June. What does the sun mean to you?
I’m half Tanzanian so the sun is the god of my forefathers. I’m equally Swedish and the sun is also a god for my Scandinavian forefathers. The sun is light and light is life.
You grew up in Denmark, so you are used to long winters. Do you have a secret remedy that gets you through the dark time of year?
The thing about Danes is that even though we have long winters, we never get used to it. It’s like a collective seven-month depression. We normally use alcohol to get through it.
In your words, what distinguishes life in Copenhagen in winter from summer?
Summer is heaven, winter is hell. And both are important in their way!
Through your label Soulland you travel a lot. Which place and what else would you love to see more often?
New York and Paris. The two true metropolises. New York is the new world and Paris is the old world…
What is your tactic for making the world a better place?
Go by bike instead of a car. Smile instead of not smiling and be active instead of being passive.
When was the last time you gave something back to someone and what did you do?
The person that needs to know, knows..
Who is your personal hero?
David Lynch!
Picture: Sascha Oda.
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The fashion crowds may have left Berlin, but here’s a look back at the best looks of Spring/Summer 2014, designed by IWISHUSUN ambassadors Leyla Piedayesh of lala Berlin, Vladimir Karaleev and Hien Le.
Palm prints in white-orange, more detailed patterns but also long silk summer coats, silk shorts and shirts and experimental, almost sculptural knitted jumpers determine lala Berlin‘s Spring/Summer 2014 Collection. We fell in love with the interplay of soft silhouettes and the collection’s tropical inspiration.
It’s all about silk and drapery – and, from now on, about denim too. For his Spring/Summer 2014 Collection Vladimir Karaleev added denim to his choices of material to aspire to a higher level in the matter of material experiments. White, beige and light brown on the one hand, blue tones on the other hand – the Berlin-based designer mixed reserved colouring and strong colour tones. Well done, Vladimir!
Placing emphasis on monochrome looks, Hien Le persuaded the fashion crowd that crystal-clear purism and high-quality materials are enough to get inspired, to enthuse and finally to convince us. Strong colors such as orange and red were alternated with bright colours, solely “interrupted” by a fanastic dragonfly print which was featured on several dress, shirts and jackets.
We are happy that we found supporters in Leyla, Vladimir and Hien – check out their interviews here.
All pictures: © Mercedes-Benz Fashion.
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Hien Le
Designer – Berlin
Hien Le might have marked summer 2010 as a relevant turning point in his career and path of life: during Berlin Fashion Week 2010 the Berlin based designer launched his own fashion label which was immediately received very well by retail and the international fashion press. One year later he won the third prize of the fashion contest “Start Your Fashion Business,” making his first runway debut and has been nominated as “Best Newcomer” by the international fashion trade magazine Sportswear International.
His designs are clear and simple but never run the risk of being boring – Hien Le formulates crystal-clear purism and sets value on high-qulity materials. He concentrates on discreet cuts and the subtle application of details. As a trained tailor Hien Le consequently maintains his claim to manufacture clothing that combines diligent design with accurate workmanship; everything produced in Germany. We could not imagine Berlin Fashion Week without Hien Le and we are very happy to welcome him as a friend!
Which of the senses are more important, sight or hearing? And why?
Both are very important, but because I am a very visual person, in this case I would go for sight.
You’re a creative person. What vision motivates you in your work?
My daily life; I live and love what I do… otherwise I couldn’t do it. The aim of seeing the collection completed, and all together, is what motivates me. I always look forward to the development and the collection process as a whole.
Where do you get the inspiration for your collections?
That differs from one collection to the next, but it is usually the daily things that surround me all the time…that could be music, art, architecture or film. I find cities and the people who live in them are always very inspiring.
How important are materials for you? What do they mean to you and where do you get them?
Materials are obviously very important for what I do. My collections are very reduced; many details are only noticeable on closer inspection. Colours and materials are what define the collection. I am a very tactile person myself and so I only use materials that I would wear myself or which feel good to the touch. Above all it’s important that they are produced under fair trade conditions. Until now I have only ordered textiles from Europe, mostly from Switzerland and Italy, and for this season for the first time cloth from Australia. I buy all my textiles at trade fairs.
Over the last few seasons the focus of your collections was on monochrome looks. The sharp silhouettes and the feel for high quality materials have remained, but for Spring/Summer 2013 the theme was flamingos and for the Autumn/Winter 2013 collection you introduced striking colour fusions, inspired by Mark Rothko, which both brought colour into your collections. How important is the visual impact that expresses for you and your work?
They are very important. Because everything is very minimal, monochrome and reduced; and one often sees the details only on closer inspection, as I already mentioned. So I can create major impact by relatively simple means, like with the last prints of the two most recent collections. That gives the collection more tension and breaks up the complete monochrome look, whilst still remaining true to my style. Being quite minimalist is an advantage in the sense that I am able to constantly expand on it and introduce new elements without completely transforming it, but remaining within the recognisable “Hien le” signature style.
And privately? What do you prefer? Eye-catchers or more restrained clothing?
More restrained.
What is your tactic for improving the world?
Living in a conscious way; taking pleasure in and valuing the gifts nature has given us. When it comes to my job, I always try to ensure that everything is made under fair trade conditions, whether in the production or the manufacture of the textiles I order.
Who is your personal hero?
My grandfather.
What is the most beautiful thing you have ever seen?
There have been so many beautiful things, but the most recent was a sunset on Bali.
Sunset or sunrise?
Sunrise.
Picture: Micki Rosi Richter.
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Let’s do something good… true to the motto of IWISHUSUN, “It’s good for you and good for others,” on 3 July 2013 we invited everyone to a brunch at SOTO Store, serving a healthy breakfast of smoothies, scones & co to celebrate the launch of the limited edition collaboration T-shirts by Marcelo Burlon – County of Milan and IWISHSUN. From 10am the two T-shirt designs with their remarkable owl print were shown for the very first time in public whilst Marcelo himself ensured good vibes from the DJ booth.
Taken from his Autumn/Winter collection 2013/14, Marcelo Burlon has designed an exclusive colourway for IWISHUSUN: a limited edition T-shirt adorned by an abstract owl on the front, which also gives an insight into his upcoming collection – the perfect animal to symbolise our mission to ensure eyesight for everyone.
You can now buy your own Marcelo Burlon x IWISHUSUN T-shirt on iwishusun.net. With every T-shirt sold, in cooperation with our partner ORBIS, a cataract eye operation will be financed in Dhaka, Bangladesh.
Thank you everyone for coming and turning this event into a wonderful experience!
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Vladimir Karaleev
Designer – Berlin
Vladimir Karaleev is without a doubt one of the most promising names at Berlin Fashion Week. From year to year we watch as he continues to develop, whilst remaining true to himself at the same time: clearly contoured experimental cuts and open hems, asymmetry and drapery, silk and wool dominate his collections, which are strongly influenced by the aesthetic of contemporary art. While his minimalistic styles are distinctive, the Bulgarian designer Karaleev, who is based in Berlin and founded his own fashion label in 2006, never gets tired of experimenting – and we hope he keeps on keeping on!
We are true fans of his designs but Vladimir Karaleev also supports IWISHUSUN. Welcome him as a friend!
What is more important to you, the sense of taste or sight?
It is hard to compare; both are interconnected. What is sight without taste, and taste is somehow based on sight. Both are very important I guess!
You are a creative person. What is your vision for your personal work?
A permanent quest for new ideas through experimentation.
Most of your designs are based on flowing cloth and asymmetry – is this decision a question of visual aesthetic or of emotion? How important is the visual power of your designs?
I think every designer finds their own way of expressing their visual language. I guess mine is based on sometimes less conventional techniques (the starting point of which can sometimes be a very basic pattern). I found it very hard to find a good balance within asymmetrical forms (if you think mathematically, there is no true balance in asymmetry, so you have to somehow compensate aesthetically). I am not really into prints; for me the perfect shape is a precise interplay between fabric, volume and colour: if they can get together without too much of a fight, then you’ve got it!
Silk is probably your most frequently used fabric. How important is the choice of material for you, and what does a fabric like silk transmit from your point of view?
I don’t confine myself to any one fabric. Sometimes silk gives me what I want, in order to achieve the shape I want, but my fabric of choice is wool. I love heavy falling wool crepe. And I mean, fabric is everything, it does transmit and carry the whole structure and shape.
Where do you source your fabrics from?
Mostly Europe, but you never know where they import their fabrics from. I must say, Europeans are not always the best partners, at least compared to Asia, where they have a much better work ethic.
What is your tactic for making the world a better place?
It’s important to take social responsibility and I try to take part in various causes that are close to my heart. Sometimes I feel bad because I don’t have more time, since our world is full of problems. As an entrepreneur I try to be as environmentally friendly as possible, to make my products sustainable without wasting too many resources - I do worry about that. Giving back is not a one-time act; it has to be a way of life and if more people lived that way, it would be much easier to solve many of our problems…
What is the most beautiful thing you ever saw?
I don’t know. I am not impressed by “beautiful”.
What would you like to see more often?
Understanding between people, tolerance, people listening to each other. In general, we are the problem and the solution: but currently it seems we have too many problems, and I’d like to see more solutions.
Sunrise or sunset – which do you prefer?
Sunrise, it’s a new day.
Pic: Dirk Merten.
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