Q&A with Male Model Fabian Pfenninger

I caught up with ginger haired Swiss model Fabian Pfenninger fresh from his spring summer 2011 shows for the likes of Ann Demeulemeester, Cerruti, Wooyoungmi, Z Zegna and Moncler.

How did you venture into modeling?



I just did it. I had a (good) feeling in my belly ... and i don’t regret it .



What level do you want to get to as regards modeling?



Oh well, I’d love to survive daily which means i have to earn enough money for living and enjoying my free time with my friends.

How do you keep your body in shape, any secret diet or strict fitness routine?

(Smiles) for my body and soul I usually go twice a week the gym. I’m not like an athletic stud or anything but I just try my best. Oh, I also try to drink loads of water.

In your own opinion what is the best part about being a model?



The best part? ... hmmn , well i like to travel around, meet new people and of course the free drinks if you go out (laughs) .



At what point would you decide to move on from modeling to something else?



I won’t do it anymore if I don’t have as much fun as I experience now

What advice have you got for aspiring models?



No risk , no fun ! BUT its always good if you have a plan b !

Q & A with Finnish Designer Fernando Korpi

At what point did you realize you wanted to be a designer?

When I read an article from a fashion magazine about Cheap Monday´s commercial success. I was about 20 years old. The older I got the more interested I got about fashion.

In what way has fashion marketing and branding helped your new label?

I have been concentrating on web marketing. Through social networks such as Facebook and fashion blogs I have gained new customers and contacts and enhanced our brand. On the internet only the sky is the limit!

Starting at a time when most label are packing up , what's your success strategy?

In my opinion many new labels (in Finland) start their business in "wrong way": they start out too big, for example rent the best locations for their showrooms and studios and invest on expensive equipment before the real business has even started! We started with a small collection, but from early on we emphasized the power of marketing like they do for example in Sweden. Later we might attend some trade fairs and fashion week. At the moment we are working on FK webshop which will be opened on August 2010.

What will you say is your brands unique selling point?

We are branding our menswear fashion collection with Scandinavian taste and attitude. Our garments are made of simple fabrics like college, tricot, leather and raw jeans. Simple but stylish!

The pressures of designing for yourself and designing a commercial collection are certainly different, how was the experience in creating your first commercial collection?

My strength is commercial approach. I focus on ready-to-wear clothing and apparels, so the designing of a commercial collection wasn´t that difficult. My style as a designer is bright and colourful yet well considered.

Finland is starting to become a bit more recognized in fashion like their other Scandinavian brothers Sweden and Denmark, what other things are needed to boost your country's fashion status?

Jealousy is a part of Finnish mentality. We don´t boost one another. Trade fairs are out of date, but we have lot of talent and upcomers for international markets. We need more self-confidence and financial investments.

In 10 years time what would you want people to think of when they hear Fernando Korpi?

"From rags to roses!"

Q&A: Blank Label

I had the rare opportunity to speak with the creative s behind online custom shirt makers Blank Label about their influential and growing label known for it's quality and customer service.

What led to the creation of Blank Label?

Blank Label was created out of spite for the mass-product retail industry. We wanted to create a product that was individually made by our consumer, because wearing something that every other guy bought from H&M wasn't appealing to us. So we decided to create custom dress shirts, and with our custom dress shirt application, individuals are empowered to design their own product. That's something we wish we had, and because no one could provide that for us, we decided to go out and do it ourselves! and we made it affordable. All of our shirts start at $45.

Blank label has a direct relationship with the final consumer since it performs the retail functions. How has this been helpful to business decision making?

Of course! Being able to connect directly with our customers gives us valuable feedback on how we can improve our product and service. That's the only way we can fully satisfy them. Giving them what they want and hearing it from their mouths is more efficient than us trying to guess what they want and testing it.

How long does it take for an order to be ready?

Our turnaround time is 3 weeks from order placement to your door. 4 weeks if you're not US domestic.

Do you guys plan to branch into Suits and Shoes or is Blank Label all about shirts?

We don't have any immediate plans to do either of these things, but they're in the idea bucket. Perhaps that's something to look into 6-12 months down the road. Right now we're just gunning real hard to nail down dress shirts.

5-10yrs down the road, where would you like Blank Label to be in terms of revenue & brand awareness?

That's a big question. As for revenue, who knows! But for brand awareness, we want to be the brand that empowers you to design your own product. We don't really want to be a brand though, but more of a platform that allows consumers to be their own designers.

P.S: Blank Label is offering readers 10% off their next purchase before 12/31/09 with the following promocode "terencesambo."

Q&A : Louis Harris-Tench

London hottie Louis Harris-Tench is a guy you would have come across on MySpace or Youtube cos of his vocal talent. But creative expression is not limited to one form of art. He was a finalist in the recently concluded VMAN model search won by Rico Nieves. Its obvious that this rising star is bound to go places. I caught up with him for a chat:
What motivated to you to enter the competition?

My cousin Rae Hippolyte is a recent graduate photographer from LCF and she told me about it. At first I wasn’t going to bother as the modeling world had yet to show me any love but 5mins before the deadline I changed my mind

What was it like to be amongst the finalists?

It was crazy – I never realized how big the competition was until they were flying the other guys and two cool workers from FORD over from the US. They gave me a brief history on Nick Knight (yes I was naive) and also showed me what previous winners had gone on to do – so it was amazing to be apart of that.

What sort of exposure has the competition given you?

Quite a lot stateside. My name keeps appearing in blogs that I read and they’ll be random scans of me and the other guys: so it’s been pretty cool. A few nice girls have added me on Facebook too – which one will always encourage lol!

If you had to choose between music & modeling what would you choose?

Music would win hands down, everytime. Singing is what I’ve needed to do since I was a kid and that will never change. I am very excited by the modeling industry and the opportunities it can present but it’s quite two-dimensional and lacks a connection that transcends further than the page. I believe it can’t touch you, change you like music can.

Any plans to branch out artistically from modeling asides music, maybe movies?

You won’t see me gracing the screen anytime soon: I know where my strengths lie and running up and down a film set pretending to be Will Smith isn’t happening anytime soon. I’m a poet so I’m doing that on the side. I’m in talks with a publisher at the moment so hopefully something will come of that.

Interview with Simon Spurr

I caught up with designer Simon Spurr the creative behind American luxury menswear label Spurr -who once worked under Hedi Slimane , Calvin Klein and recently served as design director for Ralph Lauren Purple Label- after his presentation at the just concluded NY fashion week for a chat.

If you were to express your spring 2010 collection in one word what would it be?

Elegant

What was the inspiration behind the collection?

Old Helmut Newton Portraits (Helmut Berger) and Alain Delon. I have always drawn from my favorite decade of the 60's when designing SPURR and this season is no different, however, there is slightly more of a 70's tinge running through the color palette.

There was a bit of romantic aura around the spring 2010 collection, do you see yourself as a romantic designer?

I see myself as a modern designer, a purist of some sort. I love clean lines, understated design and high level execution. However, yes, there is more of a romantic feeling to the collection this season. Rather than intentionally projecting a romantic feeling, I was looking to advance the "Elegance" of the collection which may have come across as romantic.

What kind of influence does your cultural roots have on your designs?

Growing up in Britain has definitely influenced my approach to menswear. Britain is an island with many neighbors and therefore much more competitive when it comes to its independence. London especially has had great success over the years in the film, fashion and music industries. Creative people, at the top of their fields have left a rich heritage and archive of images and reference material. We are an American company but I'm very proud of and true to being English.

What has been the biggest challenge for your brand and other luxury men's brands in these hard financial times?

I think that the consumer at all levels has been hit. People are buying less which was why "Fashion’s Night Out" was so important to kick start everyone buying again. I'm a firm believer that men will still buy luxury if it is true luxury. With that I mean, well made, from fine materials, and product that has timeless style. This is where I have been positioning SPURR. We now need to let the modern man know that we are here!

Finally, who is the typical Spurr Man?

The SPURR man is very broad in age and occupation. However, he is self confident, creative, international and humble. He understands style as well as fashion and ultimately embraces a life style (whether it be architecture, furniture or fashion) of modern elegance.

Interview with Ioannis Dimitrousis

I have great respect and admiration for Greek designer Ioannis Dimitrousis' work. The london based designer is one of few gallant soldiers who give men's fashion some pomp and artistic presentation. I had the chance to catch up with him whilst he was getting his collection ready for the upcoming fashion week and he answered a couple of questions.
When did you realize that you wanted to be a fashion designer?

While I was in the army doing my services, I started experimenting with some decorative beading on my army shirts! After finishing the army, I studied fashion for a year in Greece and then came to London to study a BA in menswear.

Does your cultural heritage influence your designs?

I think my Mum influences my designs with her knowledge of crochet. Giving a traditional element but with my own knowledge and creativity I am able to change them to a more contemporary look.
Why do you cut the way do ?

Seriously I don’t know why, I draw the lines on the patterns and cut the paper. After joining them together like a puzzle, I then try to shape then into unique form. It just comes naturally. But I wonder is just there already in my mind?

There's an interesting mix of fabrics in both your Men and Women’s collections, tell me a bit more why you use these eclectic fabrics?

I like going shopping for fabrics. Whenever I go, I spend hours and hours until I decide on the ones I like but I can never make up my mind, so I take more time than I should! Also some of the fabrics I use are vintage, which I usually find on my travels.

If you were to choose between menswear and women's what would you choose?

It is like asking a mother to choose between her son and daughter which one would she kill? You either kill them both or neither. Although there is more of a demand for Womenswear than there is for Menswear.

Any words of advice to young people with dreams of being designers someday?

Work hard and follow your dream. Nothing in life comes easy and if it did, then you won't know what success means. You will only succeed when you struggle to get to the top and remain on top.