Clara Martin, emerging menswear designer, embarked on a voyage to long-lost memories, adopting a playful and laid-back approach to the art of dressmaking.
Bright and bold.
Martin embraced the culture of experimentation, having fun with fabrics and colours.
Sleek.
Clara Martin SS16 Menswear Collection – built on the concepts of “craftsmanship”, “comfort ”, “accessible and wearable luxury” – is about an independent young man: branded jumpers, padded cotton sweatpants, three-quarter length coats.
Fucking Young!: Hello, Clara Martin SS16 Menswear Collection portrays a boy facing manhood: could you, please, take us through your adolescence?
Clara Martin: My adolescence was filled with lots of embarrassing but funny moments. I quickly learned that I wasn’t like most of my peers and getting to grips with that was a battle at the time, but a process I cherish right now.
FY!: Is the creative process shaped by the dimension of “play”?
CM: Absolutely, yes. Most of my research is done through play and experimentation, so I would definitely say that.
FY!: Who is your main source of inspiration? Any myths?
CM: My main source of inspiration is the boys and girls who do whatever they like. I think they represent pure youth and I am always trying to channel that!
FY!: Are you interested in fabric development and technical research?
CM: Fabric development and technical research are at the core of the brand. I manufactured a bonded material that holds colour marvelously and, at the same time, is very comfortable to wear and care for.
FY!: Who is Clara Martin SS16 Menswear Collection designed for? Your ideal customer?
CM: The clothes are designed for all of those who want to be bold and daring. wear comfortable and stylish pieces, embrace colour and vibrancy.
FY!: Are the pastel tops and oversized trousers supposed to convey a sense of sexual ambiguity?
CM: I think they convey whatever the wearer feels and wishes to express. That being said, I definitely want men to wear colour differently.
FY!: Gillo Dorfles, an illustrious art critic, firmly believes a t-shirt represents an effective and efficient means of communication, a symbol of taste (may it be good or bad): do you agree?
CM: I definitely agree. The t-shirt, which is probably the most widely understood item of clothing, can represent one of the most effective ways to get your message across.
FY!: Could you, please, illustrate your conception of “ease” and “comfort”?
CM: I think it is about an attitude as well as a matter of function: you know who you are and there is no need to try too hard.
FY!: Do you think high fashion should be accessible? Is it about style or quality nowadays?
CM: I think quality should always come first, but I don’t believe style should be washed away: your personal identity should always come through.
FY!: Would you say creatives still have a chance to come up with innovative ideas?
CM: In my opinion, innovative ideas stand the test of time and represent the actual product of a creative mind.
FY!: Do you feel the need of a more intuitive approach to fashion? Do you think designers, journalists, buyers are paying excessive attention to concepts and abstract constructions?
CM: No, I don’t. Actually, I think that is a shame: people should pay attention to what designers are trying to portray.
FY!: Last question: what’s today really FUCKING YOUNG!?
CM: I think a sense of assurance and self-declaration represent the common thread with youth right now!
