Meet the Dutch Designer Making Magic in Paris

Culture Trip: What do you enjoy about showing in Paris?
Liselore Frowjin: For me Paris is the fashion capital of the world, it has always been like that. During art school in the Netherlands I was already thinking ahead about how I would get my work to be shown in Paris. Besides, Paris fashion is a real business industry: the scene is so big there, and therefore it’s a great setting to present my work. Amsterdam is the perfect city for me to work in, and then I can take my presentation to Paris and show it to the greatest amount of people possible.
CT: How do you find the ‘fashion legacy’ of the city? Does it feel restrictive in anyway?
LF: Paris is mostly occupied by established fashion houses, but both the industry as well as the Fédération de la Haute Couture et de la Mode are open towards new brands and young designers like me. That’s very supportive and honourable, and makes me feel positive about the possibilities I have to grow.

CT: Looking at this collection, what were your themes and influences for SS18?
LF: A research trip through Mexico.
CT: What are the challenges of launching a new brand through Paris Fashion Week?
LF: Having the highest standards in Paris is challenging and fun, and you learn with every new collection to do better and create a clearer vision of the brand, and where you want to go with it. I’m learning as I go, and I’m happy with the progress we’re making as a company. I feel we’re getting more focussed every season, and that is especially thanks to Paris Fashion Week and the high standard of design and creative competence that you find there.

CT: Who are the artists that have most influenced your work, and why?
LF: I have always had a passion for art and integrating it into my work. For my graduate collection four years ago I focussed on the work Henri Matisse. I believe the world can’t be without artists; they are the ones create conversations and debates that we take into our everyday life. It fuels the mind and makes you think about things differently, and this in turn creates a lot of new exciting energy that you can use in daily practice.
I saw an exhibition in Mexico on Gregor Schneider, and his work is currently on display in Munster. Also, the Venice Art Biennale is high on my list to visit!

CT: You often work with silk. What is it about the material you like?
LF: I love the material for it’s diversity and the dynamics that it can add to a garment when you’re wearing it. It gives a piece of clothing a highly elegant character. You can create beautiful textiles with silk by painting on it, and through embroidery or inkjet printing. It can be transparent or create voluminous silhouettes; it can be fluid like water or crispy as paper. In every collection I like to use silk, whether it’s winter or summer.