Former Fashion Scout One to Watch winner, Hellen van Rees has done nothing but impress since graduation from Central Saint Martins with her weaved, three-dimensional pieces. Exhibiting her AW13 collection between the 15th and 19th February at our Freemasons Hall, we caught up with the Dutch designer to talk about her new collection, unique aesthetic, and Susie Bubble.
What inspired the new collection?
It's a continuation of the previous
one. I've added some
new colours and weaving directions like weaving in three directions at
once. I've been looking at modern art again but translating it more
into graphic pieces with lots of contrasts with black, white and
lines.
So you feel you've really found your
aesthetic and it's here to stay?
Yes, I think the tweed and weaving is
something I'm going to continue with. Exploring different way of
doing that. I think it's something I have that nobody else has
and it's really recognisable so it's something I want to keep.
Who do you
design for?
That's always a very difficult
question. I think I always have myself in mind, if I had more money
to spend on my wardrobe!
Susie Bubble just came to see your
work. What did she say?
She said she really liked my work
from graduation. She looked at all of the previous pieces and the new
pieces. It was very positive. She took a lot of pictures, wanted me
to send my fashion film over so it's really good.
What impact has being One to Watch
last season had?
It's been really good because it was my
first collection since graduating and it was difficult to see how I was going to present it properly to the right audience. Ones to Watch has been really helpful in getting to a fashion stage
immediately.
Interview by Josh Walker
(@josh_walker_)
Images
by Kris Elliott (@kriselliott)