Hi Michael, thank you so much for letting me to feature you on my site this week! So, what made you want to become a fashion designer?
It all goes back to my motivation to start that whole design-thing. When I was 18, one day I had this thought: constructing clothes and treating fabrics are lots of fun. So after that, I taught myself how to stitch and make "pattern" (that were basically just pieces of paper I draped on a dummy).
I think trials and errors is a very instinctive way of working, as well as having the strongest effect on my works. I must admit, before I entered to this industry, I portrayed fashion-designers as these super extrovert people who have to dress up and the whole studies was something naive in a world of huge concurrence. Yet, by exploring Antwerp these prejudices were changed.
I think self-taught is always the best way to learn your strength so that you can create the strongest pieces for your collection. Which fashion designers do you look up to? What have you learnt from them?
I like the work of Christopher Bailey for Burberry. I look up to Walter Van Beirendonck who proves that believing in your work is still the most important thing in a heavy buisness- and price- influenced market.
I really like Christopher Bailey's works as he has brought Burberry to a whole new level. I know you are working as a denim designer right now, how does this job help you with the design for your KAMPE collection?
They are two completely different worlds, so it is a great challenge to work in a commercial environment, whereas my own label is a very conceptual, independent way. It is a good training for me to understand both commercial and conceptual world as a fashion designer.
I have a very good feeling that you will be blending the two worlds into your new collection very soon and I am excited about it! I have to admit, I cannot take my eyes off your "Exploded View" collection ever since I saw it online. Would you mind to give me more information on it?
The starting-point was the so-called "Exploded View" drawings like they were developed by engineers to present a product's composition and construction. I mixed these techniques with many influences of Modern Art and Architecture ranging from Lebbeus Woods to Florian Baudrexel, then draped the pattern on the dummy.
Each pieces was draped flat, the lines and angles were calculated and divided precisely which helped me to construct innovative pattern referring to classical pieces. I translated this classical approach with the mix of fabrics such as denim, poplin, linen and nylon, as well as some special fabric such as handbag-leather and painted foam.
Those materials are very uncommon and I would love to try out one of you pieces one day! At this moment, where can we purchase your collection? What kind of design will we expect to see in your next collection?
I am in discussions with several selected shops and producers, but the "Exploded View" collection shall remain a hand-made crafted collection with single pieces, otherwise it will lose its magic. For the upcoming collection the idea of conceptual showpieces will remain, but more wearable garments will be added as well.
Too bad I am not living in Europe or else I would have commissioned you to custom made a piece for me! Last but not least, which celebrity would you want to see wearing your clothes in the future? Why?
I am not so into celebrities, so I would prefer to stitch a pair of trousers for someone who wants to go on a long journey and meet him/ her 2 years later to hear all the stories from him/her and how you can read him/her in the clothes.
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Now let's get to know Michael more by reading these trivia questions!Blue or White?
Blue
Silk or Cotton?
Cotton
Givenchy or Dries van Noten?
Mihara Yasuhiro
Waffle or Pancake?
French Toast
Rabbit or Bird?
Rabbit
Coffee or Coke?
Coffee
Spiderman or Batman?
Homer Simpson
PC or Mac?
Mac
Madonna or Kylie Minogue?
Johnny Cash
Spring or Autumn?
Autumn
Once again, thank you so much to Michael for answering my questions and I wish him all the best in the future! If you want to see more of his works, you can click here. All photos are courtesy of Michael Kampe.
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