In the vaults of Old Bilingsgate Market, for the new WeAr Select London fashion and art trade show, the young half German, half African designer Alexandra Tamele presented key pieces from her last three collections. The exhibited items witnessed the evolution from establishing her new eponymous label as global, to defining a sporty-chic style. The friendly and spontaneous Alexandra met Nerys from SUPERIOR MAGAZINE to talk about her ‘Peacock’ Autumn/Winter 2016 menswear collection, and her design process.
# You’ve already exhibited in Berlin and Paris. How does it feel to be in London now?
It’s completely different. In Paris I only had a show, not an exhibition like this.
Here it’s good to promote your collection, and to be in the press. I believe in London the styles are different - the vibe is so different - the people are different and they come to you and they are more interested about your clothes instead of being interested in you as a person. So it’s a bit different, yeah, but it’s nice to be here.
# So you think people are not interested in the designer you, but more about your clothes?
They see me, and then they are more excited about the clothes. Whereas, in Berlin, the questions are about me, and not really about my designs. And I want to show my designs, not me, I want to present my stuff.
# Are you planning on opening a shop here in London?
So, first of all, I want to be in shops, like in some concept stores, where I can hang my collection. That’s the first part for me as a young designer; I’m not expecting to open a whole shop yet.
And yes, of course, I would like to find retailers here.
# What was the inspiration behind this new collection ‘Peacock’?
First of all, when I work, I see a material, a fabric, and then everything builds up on this. So I saw the peacock fabric, and I was like ‘Ok, I need it!’ I bought everything I could find of this fabric, and then I started drawing my collection. I found other materials and then everything came together. It’s like that.
# So it’s more of a on-the-go process.
Yeah, on-the-go process. I don’t sit there and think about the whole thing, it’s not like that. I see something, and then I do it.
# Do peacocks have any significance for you?
It was just random. I saw the fabric and I was like ‘Wow’. In other collections I used African fabrics, and I thought maybe this time I’ll take something else. I need some over-printed fabrics – it’s what I love – and this time it happened to be peacocks.
# And do you have any African influence in this collection?
The African influence in this collection is my name, and the lion’s head.
# So it’s kind of an evolution from before.
Yes. As I’m half African and half German, I think people can’t see my heritage - where I’m from. They don’t know if I’m from Southern America or somewhere else, and I want to have the same for my collection. You don’t pass by my collection and think ‘Wow this is Africa!’ It’s not. It’s a mix.
# Yeah. I think that’s what’s really interesting about your whole collection; it’s really global, international.
Yes. Everybody can wear it. It is not only made for the Africans or only for the Germans, it’s for anybody who likes it.
# Do you have any experience that inspired you in creating this label, and having this urban style?
That’s what I like for myself. Since I’m a small child I love fashion. I actually started as a child model, and I never liked it. I was like ‘No!’ I don’t want to be the one who’s running on the stage. I want to be behind the whole scene. I’m a sporty person – I always do sports – so I want to be comfy all the time. That’s why my collection is like that: it’s comfy. But I think it’s also classy; some pieces are classy and you can mix them. Everything fits together.
# Do you have any previous work experience that showed you how to create your label?
Yes. I had one in Berlin, at Kilian Kerner, I don’t know if you know him. He’s a Berlin designer, and he sells here in London – I don’t know where. It was really nice to be at his house – at his atelier – and I learnt a lot of course.
# What did you do there?
Everything. I was sewing, I did the patterns and the marketing. I was in every direction. He let me do everything, it was really nice. I stayed there three months and then I worked for him at the Fashion Week in Berlin and, yeah, it was nice.
# And what are your plans for 2016?
To sell! This is my plan. I. Will. Sell. This is the big plan. And then of course to get more done.
# Do you have any more shows coming up?
African Menswear Fashion Week.
And in October I will do Paris again. These are the ones I will really do.
# Thank you for this interview and good luck!
[nggallery id=533]
Der Beitrag ALEXANDRA TAMELE | WeAr Select London erschien zuerst auf SUPERIOR MAGAZINE.