Designer Michaela Fritzsche for Whipstitch

Tell me a little about yourself. Where do you call home?

I grew up in a small village in Germany in an area called Eifel, Eisenschmitt, with my three brothers and sister. Recently I purchased a home with my boyfriend in Waldrach, a town close to Tier. We are currently remodeling the house and hoping to finish it before our wedding in September.

How did you get your start as a Designer? Did you have any formal training or are you a self taught Designer?

I started as an apprentice to an interior decorator. I enjoyed the job even though it could be physically exhausting, but what really called me was the drawing and designing of fabric. I couldn’t let it go and finally decided to go back to school to get my GED in order to study fashion design at Fachhochschule Trier. During my time at University I completed a couple different internships to broaden my perspective which included working with a goldsmith and a seamstress.

Who or what inspired you to become a Designer?
I am not quite sure anymore. As a child I was interested in designing and remember watching movies with my mother and being amazed by the clothes. Back then a series called “Sissi” was very popular, and I believe the elaborate robes of the queens and princesses made me interested in designing dresses.

Dreams of a little girl! I still like to watch historical movies mostly because of the excellent work of the custom designers. One of my goals is to work on those projects in the future!

Do you think going to school for design is important to excel in the industry?
I think it depends how you define your goals. There are a bunch of designers out there that have great success without any formal education, but generally if you dream of getting hired by a major label, a good education, is very helpful. On the other hand if you want to have a small Atelier, an education as a seamstress would be a good background.

I believe it is very important, besides getting the right education, to network in your desired field. Internships are very helpful to make contacts and get a feel for the different design fields within fashion design. If you make good connections and really nurture them it will be easier later on to make your dreams come true.

Do you remember the first design you ever made?
Oh yes I absolutely do! I used to make cloth for my Barbie and my sister had to always be a manikin for me. The first real dress I ever made had a blue and white flower skirt and I decorated it with a Barbie doll with matching hair. I believe it might still be in my parents attic.

Did you begin working with a company? When/How did your freelance career begin?

After graduation I worked with my dad for a little while in his company. I designed patterns for rugs and display windows for him. I learn a lot during this time about running a business and gathered information about how to apply for grants and accumulating materials. I also wrote a business plan and sent it to grant submissions. While working in his company I started to accept offers as a seamstress and in November of 2009 I got my grant and was able to start my own business.

What are your goals in your work?
I would like to take on more work as a stylist. I also hope to get the opportunity to work as a custom designer for theater and movies. However I always will design evening gowns – they are my passion. I am working right now on a small collection to present at a fashion show.

What are your biggest challenges?
There are small and large challenges that life brings daily. In the future I might have some difficulties to find a balance between my family and my work, but I am sure I can work it out by having a small Atelier at home.

What are your favorite fabrics to work with?
I really enjoy working with silks and combining them with other materials. The combination of different materials offers so many new creative ideas and inspirations like combining jeans with chiffon and silk or leather with lace and feathers.

What material would you like to work with/or what skill would you like to learn that you haven’t yet?

I would like to learn how to make shoes, but it is very difficult to find somebody to train under. These days it is very rare to find people who know how to construct shoes from scratch. Most shoes are made by big manufacturing companies and not by individuals anymore. I also would like to learn more about making hats.

to see more of his work go to: facebook, whipstitch

Designer Shari Ahmadi is specializing in evening and wedding gowns

Tell me a little about yourself. How did you get your start as a Designer? Did you have any formal training or are you a self taught Designer?

I have been interested in art from a very early age, even as a child I used to draw a lot and enjoyed it very much. My interest in studying fashion design gradually became more intense until I eventually decided to realize my vision and my desire to create my own clothing. During the process of completing a number of internships, I felt encouraged to pursue my goal; I felt I had made the right choice. I realized that – even though it involves a good deal of hard work – making my own ideas come true is incredibly gratifying. I prepared a portfolio and applied to the University of Applied Sciences in Trier; I passed the entry exam. I recently finalist my degree course and I presented my first line of clothing to a large audience. This experience was absolutely brilliant and it has confirmed my decision to continue this path: I really enjoy designing clothes, continually realizing new ideas and seeing my own creations during fashion shows.

Do you think going to school for design is important to excel in the business later on?

I think that with a combination of ambition, focus on one’s objectives, and a little business sense and luck, everything can be achieved without specific schools. Many famous designers such as Armani or Christian Dior did not attend fashion school and they are obviously incredibly successful. Some are more adventurous and go into business by themselves without having been to school, others prefer to play it safe and go to fashion school. Some make it, others don’t. Personally, I do not think that a diploma is a guarantee for success.

Did you always want to be a Designer or did stumble into it? Did you begin working with a company? When How did your freelance career begin?

No, becoming a fashion designer was not my career aspiration when I was little. Even as late as four years ago, I didn’t have the slightest idea about fashion design. I had never thought about the process that takes a garment from the first sketch or draft to its eventual realization. As a child, I used to draw my idols and favorite cartoon characters and I wanted to become an animated cartoon artist. However, as there were an increasing number of reports about fashion in the media, I realized that I possessed an untapped – and, so far, unnoticed – stock of ideas for dresses. Once I had become aware of this, I started to commit my ideas to paper. I have recently handed in my diploma thesis and I’m planning to apply to a selection of companies. I’m hoping to gather experience for a while and eventually I will set up my own business.

Who or what inspired you to become a Designer?

Nobody inspired me to become a designer. Of course, I do have paragons and favorites; I’m particularly partial to the work of Elie Saab or Zuhair Murad, for instance. What I find most You create something and your idea has the potential to make other people happy. This is my motivation and inspiration. intriguing and exciting about design is the process during which an idea is turned into reality.

What are your biggest challenges?

The biggest challenge is the correct organization and planning of a collection or a fashion show. Often there are unforeseeable problems and it can be difficult to stay on schedule. Furthermore, it is important that you are able to find a spontaneous solution to all sorts of problems, because frequently there’s no one to show you how things work or how to behave correctly in certain situations. You have to be able to deal with this kind of pressure.

How do you work? What is your process?

The best ideas come to me in dreams and in the shower. Sometimes they’re specific forms and colors, other times they’re ideas for a whole dress. I always carry a notebook so I can record fresh ideas instantly. When I prepare a new collection I browse my notebook and extract appropriate elements from a variety of drafts, turning them into something new. I also enjoy draping very much. It allows and encourages the spontaneous formation of new patterns, forms and ideas. The result is instantly visible, a circumstance which permits the designer to immediately see whether the garment fits the collection or not. This method leads to a prolific accumulation of ideas for the collection and in the end one only has to pick the best.

What other projects are you working on?

Currently I’m participating in a competition called the Gold Ball. (www.dergoldeneball.de). I have been selected into the top 10 at Berlin Fashion week. I am specialing in wedding and evening gowns this competition is geared to. I am looking forward to go to the final selection in Leipzig and see how the jury evaluates my dresses.

Credits:
Fotograf: Daniel Gieseke
Design: Shahrzad Ahmadi
Hair and Make-Up: Sebnem Ekmekci
Models: Dana Söhngen, Yesim Sery