Magda Marnell
November 24, 2010
With her new collection Swedish fashion designer Magda Marnell, 28, travels back in time. Like the Ernest Hemingway novel, the handmade, braided pieces draw inspiration from the lonely fisherman and the sea.
Walking along the river outside Swedish small town Uppsala Magda Marnell stumbled upon a winter lay-by for boats. She was captured by the beauty: magical and transient at the same time.
In our modern world, the image of the lonely fisherman is slipping further and further away. Traditionally this way of working has been inherited through generations, but today the children of these fishermen can hardly survive and are forced to find a new meaning with their lives. I see this collection as homage to the lonely fisherman, says Magda Marnell.
How did you work with the collection?
My starting point was the body and from there the clothes have developed in a very organic way. This makes the work process fundamental for the expression of the finished piece. The braiding is inspired by fishnets, but also by the movement of water and the colors shift like water; from white to light gray to blue and the darkest black – and yellow like the suns reflection. Big parts of the collection are made fully by hand and the braiding is very time consuming. Behind some of the pieces there are 100 hours of work. I wanted to go back to traditional handicraft as a counterweight to the quick paced fashion culture of today – to make slow fashion. In that sense I see the pieces more like art, and I want the bearer to be aware of all the hours of work that lies behind them and feel unique.
You’re premiered your collection in Prague, Czechia, on November 24th. Why did you choose that city for your launch?
Prague is interesting because it is not the obvious fashion Metropolis, there isn’t a recognized and eastablished fashion scene, comparing to other European cities. I became friends with Yasmin Keshmiri Hejduk who started Minty Concept Club in Prague and is working hard to develop a scene for fashion and art in Prague. It feels exciting to be part in the creation of something new. Yasmin is an amazingly dedicated person who among other things launched Acne in Prague this fall. We both see our collaboration as a starting point for something that we don’t know the end of.
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Photos from Deconstructed fashion show, November 23 in Prague
Why did you want to become a designer?
I’ve always been sketching and painting. As a kid I made clothes for my teddy bears and dolls. So this urge to express myself artistically has always been present. When I was 14–15 I started to design my own clothes. At that age, designing my own clothes became an excellent way to express my identity. It’s hard to pinpoint why it was clothes and not something else, but it just came natural. I always get new ideas for garments and collections I want to do.
What have you done before?
I studied fashion design at London College of Fashion and Beckmans College of Design in Stockholm. Aside from fashion studies I’ve also obtained a Bachelor’s degree in Art history, which has always been a huge inspiration to me, and studied architecture, which taught me to push boundaries and explore elements like structure and form. That’s why I named the collection Deconstructed. It’s fantastic to take these amazing materials, like silk, rip them up and then rebuild them in a new way.
How do you see Swedish fashion in an international perspective?
[I think] Swedish fashion is good at pushing boundaries and exploring itself. But sometimes I think a lot of Swedish designers get stuck in a certain Swedish style – the architectural, asymmetrical form inspired by Martin Margeela’s deconstructionism and based on the color shades of black, gray and white. I think we can use more experiments with colors. Especially during our dark winters we need the energy kicks that color and prints can bring!
What are your dreams for the future?
My creations are about building my own fantasy worlds and I will keep creating these and working with my design.
By Katarina Matsson
Published by: The Swede Beat
