February 3, 2013 |
JONNY JOHANSSON
He may claim to be Mr Generic, but we don’t know many who can build a world-class fashion house from a few pairs of jeans. Johansson spent his youth in lots of bands, and seems to have utilised that rock-star kind of charisma (plus a whole heap of talent) to succeed in his front-man role at creative collective Acne.
What’s your earliest menswear memory? A favourite outfit/article of clothing? The first show you saw?
“My father’s braided suede shoes – not that that’s clothing. I’m Mr Generic, don’t jump me – it’s the leather jacket, the jean, the T-shirt, the white shirt.”
Do you have a special talent? What’s your party trick?
“I like to sing a schnapps – drinking – song. But solo, please, no interfering.”
What’s your biggest vice? We won’t tell a soul.
“Collecting guitars – it’s like my heroin.”
What gets you out of bed in the morning? Coffee? Croissant? Something harder?
“My work.”
Dressing up and going out, or Jeremy Kyle reruns – what keeps you up at night?
“Going out – if I know the dress code – otherwise I would prefer to stay at home. There’s nothing worse than being wrongly dressed at a party – unless it’s intentional.”
First piece of menswear you designed? Instant success or epic fail?
“One hundred pairs of jeans – you be the judge.”
Mentors/muses? Who never fails to inspire?
“I’m not really into mentors. I just keep striving to learn.”
What are you wearing? For the shoot, we mean. We’re not being filthy, honest.
“Acne jeans and T-shirt and black jacket.”
You can judge a man by his…
“Shoes – my mother always said you could judge a man by his shoes. It’s one of those rules I learned.”
It all started with a pair of jeans. How do you wear yours during the summer months? Are you a cut-offs kind of guy?
“Just my normal jeans.”
What’s the secret to throwing an amazing party? Acne have thrown some blinders in the past.
“The concept – sexy kinda cute.”
What’s new for men’s SS13?
“Stripes, Borsalino hats, metallic shoes.”
RICHARD NICOLL
To paraphrase Madonna, he’s our True Blue, and not only because we’re a little bit in love with him. It’s a colour Nicoll loves to both wear and design with. A mainstay of his women’s shows, he also plastered it all over his debut menswear collection, which he has declared “something to wear at last”.
What’s your earliest menswear memory? A favourite outfit/article of clothing? The first show you saw?
“I’ve always matched colours and patterns, ever since I was a kid, so there is one pretty memorable look that was a red and green rugby shirt, red trousers and green deck shoes – a kind of summer/Christmas preppy look – delete! My favourite article of clothing now is a Morrissey T-shirt that Linder gave me and that he signed ‘Morrissey was here’ when I met him. It’s one for a frame and a wall.”
Do you have a special talent we’re not aware of? What’s your party trick?
“Party trick? Breaking or losing my phone.”
What’s your biggest vice? We won’t tell a soul.
“There are too many to choose from.”
What gets you out of bed in the morning? Coffee? Croissant? Something harder?
“Strong coffee.”
Dressing up and going out, or Jeremy Kyle reruns – what keeps you up at night?
“Skype.”
What was the first piece of menswear you designed? Instant success or epic fail?
“The customised Ksubi denim jacket that I did for my first men’s collection was a the biggest hit – top seller.”
Mentors/muses? Who never fails to inspire?
“Keith Haring, David Bowie, David Byrne, Nick Cave, Morrissey, Tupac.”
What are you wearing? For the shoot, we mean. We’re not being filthy, honest.
“From the bottom up, Nike Air Max, Falke socks, Acne shorts, Sunspel pants, American Apparel T, customised Ksubi/Richard Nicoll denim jacket and Philip Treacy for Richard Nicoll jacquard cap.”
You can judge a man by his…
“Versatility.”
Clotheshorse or fashion stallion? Do beefier men look better in your clothes?
“I’d like to think it works for both. The fit is somewhere in between and the look is pretty versatile.”
Apparently, men can’t multitask. How do you balance the design of both men’s and women’s collections?
“I approach it as if it’s one collection and they inform each other. I’ve found that it makes sense and works easily, like brother and sister.”
What’s new for men’s SS13?
“The whole thing is new for me, it’s my debut collection. I studied menswear at Central Saint Martins before I studied women’s, but this is the first time I have done it since 1999 – it’s been fun.”
Text Vincent Levy
