Franzius

Interview with Franzius

In the 1920s Berlin was one of the largest fashion metropolises in Europe. It was not until after Reunification that an optimistic mood and low rents attracted plenty of creative spirits back into the once-divided city. Today I introduce a fashion designer ''Stephanie Franzius'' as one of the new ''Berlin Design''. Her label is Franzius - simply her surname. And her collections are simple but conventional shapes, clean lines and carefully selected fabrics, generally in muted colours.

- Can you tell us a little bit about yourself as a fashion designer and your brand.

S: After spending a lovely childhood in Berlin, I started my fashion career in New York, were I worked at pretty well known fashion companies such as Adrienne Vittardini and Anne Klein. Returning to Berlin I indulged into my design education at FHTW withe and finally added a Masters degree at the Fashion Institute Arnhem in Amsterdam. My final master presentation in Paris in 2003 during the couture fashion week marked the end of my studies and the start of my label. FRANZIUS was born. Since then I have been presenting my collections in international showrooms in Berlin, Paris, New York and Tokio.

- Can you tell us a little bit about the new Spring/Summer 2009, what were your initial concepts?

S: ''Everything is a part of a bigger picture, but each piece is entirely in itself.''
The inspirational heart piece is a white puzzle. 300 pieces, plain, without an image on it. When you are done, it is nothing but everything. That was the tipping point for a silkprint screen, one of the heart pieces of my new spring/summer collection “Geometry” 2009. Every item follows a certain geometry- a grid out of which the collection develops. FRANZIUS covers every aspect of your life. The collection offers a range of dresses for every aspect a day can bring. Casual leisure wear in the morning, a more formal style for lunch to classy elegant evening wear.

- Regarding your A/W 2008-09 collection, can you tell us a little bit about the detail.

S: The collection “Snice” is build on my main topic: evoke friction that creates something powerful and resistant at the same time. Snice is a special product with a density that lies between snow and ice. The material is traditionally used to build ice hotels which last for only four months or one 'season' at the same time. The collection's represent this theme as e.g. the ice-cold cut of the 100% silk velvet top which shows power and fragility at the same time. There are very soft and light silk pieces (velvet tops) as well as heavy wool jackets (check jacket). Taking the range from morning to evening wear to late night party dresses (Paris Hilton loved and ordered it later.)

- What is the most important facet to pay attention to in your designs?

S: The design always encorporates the spirit of FRANZIUS - the collection as well as each seperate item are strong wearable pieces that stand for a strong idea as well as each item does stand for itself.

- Do you have any favourite materials/fabrics and/or special techniques you enjoy using?

S : Reduce the seams: I love draping and not cutting the fabric. That way I shape volume and silhoutte with natural high-class materials such as silk.

- In the beginning, what actually made you get into designing?

S: It happened so early that I started to be creative and would work with cloth that I can not remember how it actually happened.

- How would you describe your style?

S: Soft contraction. Strong meets soft. From an elegant feminine attitude to a classy casual one. FRANZIUS is unpretentious and unexcited but always with a certain edge.

- What are your opinions on the current Europe fashion scenes?

S : European fashion has a worldwide attention like no other time before. The clean and rough style climbes the stage of the international fashion world. It is the time for a new European modernity.

- What are your career plans, do you have any future goals?

S: It is time to spread the spirit of FRANZIUS. We work ambitiously on positioning my label in the European and International fashion world.

- Do you have some words of wisdom for any young designers and our
readers?

S: The way to the stars is hard and stony... indulge in it.

Website : http://www.franzius.eu/

Written by Toshimi Takaishi