MATTIJS’ LOVE FOR PLEATS & PLAYFUL FASHION PART 2

MORE FASHION

CONTINUED FROM PART 1...

DO YOU FIND WEARABILITY IN YOUR COLLECTIONS IMPORTANT?

Yes, definitely. For example, in my last collection there is this big heart-shaped shirt with the enormous sleeves. I doubted so much about this piece because it was such a difficult garment. However, although this is the least wearable item in the collection it has been ordered by two shops; I think because it’s a piece that wows you. I like to make things that people want to have and want to wear. Things people would love to have in their wardrobe. That’s one of the starting points when I’m designing.

WE LIVE IN TIMES WHERE THE BIG FASHION HOUSES RULE AND SMALL DESIGNER LABELS GET BLOWN AWAY. WHY DO YOU THINK THE FASHION INDUSTRY IS IN NEED OF YOUR LABEL ‘MATTIJS’? WHAT IS YOUR CONTRIBUTION TO NOWADAYS FASHION?

To be honest, I’m still figuring that out. I started my own label, because I love what I do, I love designing. I wouldn’t mind working for a fashion house or other label, but I think it’s such a shame that there’s only a small space in the market for young creativity at the moment. Of course the interest is there, but for a young designer to do well in the today’s fashion world you need to have a lot of money. It’s such a shame there’s no space for doing something small. You really need to scream it out to get the attention, because there’s so much going on in the world.
At the moment, I’m at a turning point because there’s so much attention for me, which is amazing, what’s happening is really great, but still, I have some stockists but you need 40 or 45 stockists if you want to be able to support yourself. Like for instance Spijkers en Spijkers are doing now, I think it’s amazing what they did step by step, making really good choices and now they are able to support a company with a big fashion show and everything by themselves, which is quite impressive in my opinion. It’s a good thing, but it’s such a hard thing to do, to build a company. I’m already at that point that I’m actually thinking about the ideal way to build my company.



WHAT CAN WE EXPECT FROM YOUR NEXT COLLECTION? AND WHAT ABOUT OTHER PLANS FOR THE FUTURE?

The ideas are ready; I can’t tell you everything about it, but it’s going to be a lot of fun again. Last season’s collection was more of a statement, but now I just want to be playful again. I love fashion for its frivolity and its fastness; I want to play that game. But first I have to find a budget; I’m working on that at the very moment, to find sponsors or an investor, because I just have to. I’m doing a lot of projects besides that. I’m doing a thing for the Arnhem Fashion Biennale in June, two outfits for the exhibition, which is fantastic. I just opened an exhibition at The Zuiderzeemuseum (in the North of Holland red.), which is also great. I am doing outfits for a dance group called Introdans. So there is a lot of stuff going on, which is really really good. And then for the coming seasons I definitely, like I said, want to show internationally again.

WHAT ABOUT THE COLLABORATION WITH YOUR MOTHER ON A LINE OF JEWELERY?

Yes, we have been collaborating together for several collections now, doing integrated pieces of jewellery in the garments but also separate items. At the moment, we are at a point that we’re looking into how we can market that better to become more of an independent thing. I actually hope that, in a few years time, I will be able to have a MATTIJS ‘Haute Jewellery’ line. I already have all the ideas in place, but it has to be the right time.

TO CONLUDE, IF WE COULD LOOK BACK AT YOUR CAREER IN FIFTY YEARS, HOW WOULD YOU LIKE TO BE REMEMBERED?

I think I would like to be remembered for beautiful garments. I just like making clothes. It’s more a feeling like happiness or love, for me, bringing with my clothing, than I would like to be remembered for my trench coats or frilly blouses. I think love is a keyword for me. For garments, not for me, I hope!

WWW.MATTIJSVANBERGEN.COM

Mehtap Gungormez, 2009


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