Speaking With Designer Kostas Murkudis

Having discovered, looked, and compared the work of Berlin designer Kostas Murkudis, I thought it a good idea to find and chat with him a little. So I did just that today.

To me he seems to belong to the few Artist-Designers persons in the fashion world. It's a category few encompass. And I have no doubt he'll continue to impress; he sure got my interest when he described his upcoming F/W 09-10 collection!

Here is the quick one-on-one talk:

Tell us a little about your background. Where were you born?
Born in Dresden.

How did you come into fashion, and when did you discover your designer to design?
More of an accident.
Went to study graphic art - before the exams I discovered that I am more interested into fashion.

Where & when did you study and graduate; did you work under anyone after that?
I studied in Berlin at lette-verein.

When did you start your own label?
My first job was at JOOP - but i stayed there only for one season; right after I became the first assistant to HELMUT LANG.

What point of view are you trying to present in your work?
Thats my way to communicate .

Is fashion-design an art?
It is depending on the work and the perspective.

Does architect play a part in your work?
I very much love architecture - it is indeed inspiring me and my work.

Describe the woman (& man) your clothing is designed for.
Who ever is touched by the clothes dont want to gather myself into categories like this

Sheerness & transparency plays a big part of your work, tell me a little more about that please.
Sheerness & transparency are part of my language since the beginning; they reflect light in mysterious ways; they hide things - keep them more personal.

You obviously need to create practical-wearable clothing, but are you very conceptual otherwise?
Thats a good point; love conceptual work - as I do wearable and useful design.

What were you thinking about with your S/S 09 collection?
It was mainly about the contradiction of using the expensive silks in a respectless way - to combine them with destroyed used elastic and give them a history through the treatment afterwards in my most beloved delicate 50ies tight-color-range from cream to flesh - gris and black.

What is happening in Berlin these days? It seems very lively both with fashion design and also art!
Berlin is still very raw - i personally love that we are able to get easily in touch with other disciplines

Give us a peek into your fall collection, what should we be expecting?
Fall is about glass and protection: the colours and shapes behind glass.

Other designers you personally respect. And why?
I very much admire the work of Rudi Gernreich - simply because it was radical - full of humor and sexy at the same time and extremely well executed.

Your Favorite:
Music: blonde redheat
Film: hiroshima mon amour
Book: all the books about carlo mollinos work
Artist: vito acconci

Where can we find your work in the US?
At Project No. 8 in New York [138 Davidson St. 212.925.5599]

Thanks for your time.