More than just a pretty face, model Andrew Westermann (Tomorrow Is Another Day), who has appeared in ad campaigns for Raf Simons, Hugo Boss and Costume National, and continues to walk for just about every major design house, is a budding designer. The German-born 22-year old industry favorite just launched the online shop for his Cologne-based collection, ROC Line. Westermann started the collection in 2012 and has served as his own model for quite awhile now, along with his friends. More often than not he’s being snapped by both backstage and street style photographers during the various fashion weeks in his ROC Line wares, making the collection the ultimate model off duty wardrobe staple.
Despite the Louis Vuitton lookbooks, the placement on models.com’s “Hot List” and the countless runway shows he done, Westermann is humble about his up-and-coming brand. He is not a formally trained designer, but instead, is learning along the way; he says: “I’m absorbing everything I can get, either whilst running down the runway and working with the biggest designers in the world or just walking down the streets and looking for inspiration, mood, silhouette and style. Anybody can inspire and anything can inspire, whether it be a song, a painting, a movie.”
And Westermann does, in fact, have some impressive designers to learn from. As for particulars, Westermann is close with Louis Vuitton’s Kim Jones but doesn’t pick favorites. He told me he “looks up to almost every designer that can show where he’s coming from and what his concept is.” In the world of high fashion, Westermann, who made his debut walking in Valentino’s F/W 2013 show, says: “There are so brands that I find inspiring but also some I just cant identify with. ROC Line is a street wear brand.” He is concentrating right now, like any smart emerging designer on the fundamentals of the brand and its aesthetic: “I am trying to get the concept right and make it clear. Because it’s not high fashion, I can’t really work with expensive materials. So, for me it’s more about concept.”
Of the current collection Westermann says he is focusing on prints (think: lionskulls, bold graphics and even some historical references) and silhouettes; “I want to see if I can build something out of nothing just from having an idea.” As for expanding the collection beyond its current offerings, Westermann says this is “definitely” something he is hoping to accomplish. “I would like to do pants, shorts, shirts and go into accessories, like hats and pocket squares, etc.” You can shop ROC Line at the brand’s newly launched e-Commerce site and be sure to keep an eye out for Westermann and his pals at the mens shows this June, where they will undoubtedly be giving us a sneak peek at what designs are to come.
