September 20, 2011 |
FROM THE VAULT (SUMMER 2011)
NAME: Mary Katrantzou
AGE: 28
OCCUPATION: designer
CURRENT EMPLOYER: Mary Katrantzou
FIRST JOB IN FASHION?
“Sophia Kokosalaki”
WHAT’S NEW?
“A collaboration with Longchamp, our new studio and creating a wedding dress for a very special someone!”
HOW DID YOU GET STARTED?
“I did the Central Saint Martin’s MA and then applied for NewGen support straight out of that, in 2008.”
WHAT DOES IT TAKE TO GET TO THE TOP OF THE TREE?
“A strong focus, talent, hard work and perseverance.”
FASHION IS…
“Applied design…”
DO YOU EVER WEAR YOUR OWN DESIGNS?
“The jewellery.”
WHAT INSPIRES YOU?
“Creativity.”
HOW IMPORTANT ARE HEMLINES?
“They can be age sensitive.”
CAN YOU MULTI TASK?
“I try!”
WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE ON YOUR EPITAPH?
“My name and timeline.”
ARE YOU ONLY AS GOOD AS YOUR LAST COLLECTION?
“You are as good as your collective work.”
ARE YOU/ WERE YOU A JUVENILE DELINQUENT?
“I had a small interval from excellent (!) behaviour, during which I left home.”
ARE YOU A SMOKY SOMETHIN’?
“A smoky what?”
DO YOU GET JEALOUS OF OTHER DESIGNERS?
“No.”
DO YOU GET RECOGNISED ON THE STREET? DO YOU HAVE/ HAVE EVER HAD A STALKER?
“I have been recognised outside the church of Saint Sophia on an Easter Sunday!”
HAVE YOU EVER THROWN A DIVA STROP?
“No, I’d probably be able to contain it though.”
WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT THE WAY MOST PEOPLE DRESS?
“They often make the wrong choices for themselves.”
WAS THERE A PARTICULAR POINT WHEN YOU STARTED TO GET AMBITIOUS?
“There are levels of ambition. It probably was after my first collection. It was shown at the New Gen stands and I received my very first orders from Browns, Colette and Penelope. I realised this is going to be my future and it is a business that drives your ambition season after season.”
HAVE YOU ALWAYS BEEN ALL ABOUT FASHION?
“I never was but it’s hard not to be now.”
ARE YOU A LEGEND? LEGENDARY?
“Not quite!”
DALLAS OR DYNASTY? SUE ELLEN OR ALEXIS?
“Never watched Dallas, so it’s got to be Dynasty and Alexis all the way.”
HAVE YOU EVER LIED IN AN INTERVIEW?
“No.”
DO YOU HAVE A MENTOR? A MUSE? WHO/WHAT ARE THEY?
“Louise Wilson and Sarah Mower have been my mentors. They are both amazing women.”
ARE YOU A BELIEVER IN HEALTHY COMPETITION?
“Yes.”
WHAT DID YOU HAVE FOR DINNER LAST NIGHT?
“Veal Milanese.”
HOW MANY LICKS DOES IT TAKE TO GET TO THE CENTRE OF IT?
“Depends. Is it round or square?”
CAN YOU WRAP YOUR LEGS AROUND YOUR NECK LIKE JANICE DICKINSON?
“No, but we share the same star sign!”
IF YOU COULD BE A SUPERHERO, WHAT SUPERHERO WOULD YOU BE AND WHY?
“Superman is always a good choice, I think. Pre-1985 Crisis rewrite.”
WHAT IS GOOD DESIGN?
“Timeless.”
DO YOU REMEMBER YOUR FIRST DRESS? SHOW?
“My first party dress had checks on it and a big black velvet bow – I was six. My first show was the perfume bottle collection for AW09. I remember everything about it and about how a dress was destroyed backstage minutes before the show. It was all in Swarovski crystals.”
WHAT’S VULGAR?
“NO TASTE.”
HAVE YOU EVER BANNED ANYONE FROM YOUR SHOW BECAUSE OF A BAD REVIEW? WOULD YOU?
“I haven’t and I don’t think I ever would. I read every review and try to better my work.’
HOW PRETENTIOUS ARE YOU ON A SCALE OF 1-10?
“I’m not.”
by Natalie Dembinska
Photograph by Sean Thomas – www.seanthomasphotography.com
