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From cervical collars with metallic attachments to extravagant headpieces, Polish fashion and costume designer Katarzyna Konieczka is the queen of macabre aesthetics. Some of her medical-inspired designs would possibly make you need to cancel your subsequent dentist appointment — however at the very least, they may stimulate your creativeness.
Konieczka has managed to make world’s greatest pop stars fall in love together with her items. Hailing from Sopot, Poland, she graduated from Warsaw’s International School of Fashion and Costume Design in 2008, and since then, magazines and celebrities have stored her busy — working with everybody from Lady Gaga and Madonna to heavy metallic band Behemoth, in addition to editorially, with shoots in magazines like Vogue and i-D.
Alternative Press spoke to Konieczka about some of her greatest initiatives, in addition to the inspiration behind her imaginative and prescient.
Read extra: How Anna Sui created some of music’s most iconic seems to be
[Courtesy of Katarzyna Konieczka]
How did you get into design? What was the genesis of your inventive expression?
Generally talking, the reply is childhood. It takes a specific sort of particular person — somebody who observes rigorously, somebody who tends to note different issues than their friends. I’ve at all times seen inspirational shapes and silhouettes in on a regular basis objects. I didn’t take note of issues most youngsters are supposed to concentrate to. My creativeness would take me to a fantasy world. That’s how it began.
Your model is kind of distinctive. How would you describe it your self and who’re some of your inspirations?
My model is wealthy in its type, darkish, natural.
I’m impressed by the likes of [artist] H. R. Giger, who labored on the Alien franchise, and Zdzislaw Beksiński, identified for his dystopian, surrealist work and images. They’re full of darkness — a particular, evil aesthetic that looks like it’s made of darkish, lace patterns. When it involves Giger, I’m impressed by the means he labored with form. He created his personal anatomical techniques, or bones, which was compelling. Eiko Ishioka is [another one of] my inspirations, particularly the work she did for [the 2000 sci-fi film] The Cell. So are my friends from my hometown of Sopot and its the membership scene, which was full of artists and designers.
Your designs appeared in Lady Gaga’s “Yoü and I”music video, which got here atsuch an iconic time in popular culture. In the video, Gaga is seen sporting your designs, together with metallic chains and cables round her face and neck. How did that collaboration come about?
Her staff contacted me — the individuals who labored for Nicola Formichetti, Gaga’s stylist again then — asking for my black and golden corsets. When that correspondence came about, I already had a brand-new assortment out, so I requested in the event that they needed to see the new stuff and so they mentioned certain. They cherished all the new gadgets, regardless that they had been so totally different from the designs they initially needed. They cherished all the metallic designs, the ones with cables connected.
[Courtesy of Katarzyna Konieczka]
Your work work was not too long ago utilized in Madonna’s cowl photoshoot for Vanity Fair. How did that occur?
Madonna’s inventive stylist messaged me on Facebook. I labored together with her earlier than on a Fergie music video referred to as “A Little Work.” Initially, I attempted to not get too excited. I believed that she was in all probability talking to a number of designers throughout the world at the moment, that it was nonetheless early phases and nothing sure. But after the shoot, she messaged me to say all of it went fabulously! She was so excited, sending me so many exclamation marks.
That was the first time for me getting such optimistic suggestions and feeling appreciated. I designed so many unique gadgets, particularly for Madonna. I felt so fulfilled.
What recommendation would you give to different designers who aspire to see their work worn by the greatest stars?
To preserve and defend your uniqueness, your originality. Give your self an opportunity to look inward, detach your self from different creatives, discover your personal means.
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