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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It’s getting cold but this doesn’t mean that we can’t look good anymore! For our choice for a grey monday our products team up with one of our friends and ambassadors, Leyla Piedayesh, founder of the Berlin-based fashion label lala Berlin: our classy and ultra light down jacket combined with lala Berlin’s multicoloured skirt “Caladan.” Shop our IWISHUSUN down jacket here.
Read Leyla’s interview with IWISHUSUN here.
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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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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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Leyla Piedayesh
Founder of lala Berlin – Berlin
It’s almost 10 years ago that Leyla Piedayesh has founded her label lala Berlin. After resigning from her job as an editor at the music station MTV, a new period of her life began with a simple find at a flea market: knitted wristlets. She began to knit some herself and shortly thereafter lala Berlin was born – a label that has turned knitwear fashions inside out, that is characterised by noticeable combinations of cashmere, baby mohair and silk and that turned Leyla Piedayesh into one of Germany’s most famous and successful designers. Needless to say that we didn’t want to miss her clothes in our wardrobes, but we found a supporter in Leyla Piedayesh as well. Welcome!
Which sense is more important to you, touch or sight?
If I really had to decide – sight is more important to me personally.
Why?
I am an extremely visual person – I love the power and the significance of colours for example. And you simply can’t touch colours. Colours have a special meaning to me and are not only incredibly important in my work, but also for me personally.
You’re a creative person. What vision motivates you in your work?
The creation of new things and turning new ideas into reality. Creating something new that has never existed before in that way. It is not just the one vision, but every season there is always new inspiration and a new vision to go with it. It’s exactly that constant variety that I like; that is my driving force. Of course an overarching theme is the vision of lala Berlin – creating a look that is modern but also cool and relaxed and representative of Berlin.
As well as some monochrome looks your collection is defined mainly by striking colours and eye-catching prints. How important is the visual power that exudes, for you and your work?
There is a definite focus to every collection – also in terms of colour. I have a whole load of fun playing with colours and prints. But I do try to create new effects by working with colour contrasts or unexpected colour combinations. Striking, in part eccentric colours and expressive prints have simply become the trademarks of lala Berlin.
And privately? Do you prefer eye-catchers or a more restrained look?
In private I prefer mainly to wear my own collections – but I style them in my own personal way. I don’t like styling that’s too obvious, but on the other hand an extremely minimalist look is not my thing either. In brief: I go for restrained eye-catchers.
How and where do you find the inspiration for new motifs and patterns?
That depends: for example I get a lot of inspiration from my direct environment. The city in which I live and work is an important source. My young daughter also inspires me a lot with her ideas and preferences. Children can really fire up your imagination with their carefree ways. But often inspiration comes quite by chance.
Knits and silks are to a certain extent constants in your collection, in terms of material choices. Where and how do you find your materials?
At various textile trade fairs. There I can allow myself to be inspired by the most varied materials, nations and people. Of course I love to discover new things, unusual things and soak up the inspiration.
When did you last give something back and how?
There should be give and take in all our actions, starting with my daughter down to my co-workers. It shouldn’t really be necessary to think about it. It’s a done deal – everything is give and take.
What is your tactic to improve the world we live in?
Having a consciousness. About what we do, and what we consume. I may not be able to change the whole world like that, but it’s a step in the right direction.
What is the most beautiful thing you have ever seen?
My daughter – of course.
What would you like to see more of?
Happy laughing people around me, who don’t have a beef with everything and everyone.
Having a good mood simply motivates, and it’s contagious: high spirits should be part of every day life, not just privately, but at work as well.
Sunrise or sunset?
Sunset.
Photo: Peter Rigaud.
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