Manolo.se intervjuar Kim Jones

Manolo.se har tidigare berättat om samarbetet mellan Umbro och den brittiske modeskaparen Kim Jones. I samband med releasefesten i Stockholm den 23/2 fick vi en intervju med Kim.

Your collaboration with Umbro has caused a lot of press and interest among fashionistas – tell us about how the idea first came up and how you proceeded to develop the collection?
Well I was doing some work with Umbro and they wanted to do a small line of clothing under the contrast banner, so I did that and it got a good amount of interest. So we gradually expanded it and that’s where we are today.
I always look at the youth culture around football for inspiration and try to keep it very British, but maybe I’ll look at other football cultures soon!

Several other fashion designers have also collaborated with major sports brands – do you have any favourites?
Y 3 was a great success and I’ve heard Stella’s is doing well.

Your regular collections seem to flirt with sportswear as well – what are your thoughts on designing clothes with an active look?
Well I do like youth culture as an influence and sportswear is very prevelent in that, so it will always be a part of my work and I don’t feel I’m soley a sportswear designer.

High end fashion is sometimes critisized for being elitist, especially considering that it is rarely sold outside large cities. Tell us about your work with Topman.
If you want to make an impact nowadays you have to consider two angles. Having an identity and being commercial. I think I have a good balance of both and doing things like Umbro and Topman allow people, who like my clothes and can’t afford them, to buy them and expands my market too, which I didn’t plan on and I only did two collections for them.

Which new designers are you keeping an extra eye on this coming fall/winter?
Well, I don’t have a menswear favorite at the moment, but I do love Ebru Ercon and Marios Scwab for womenswear, and Ann Sofie Bach is always great.

You have recently worked with the Mulberry, why did you choose such a classic brand to work with? Who will be the typical customer for the bags?
I’m really into working with British brands. I wanted to do some bags for my show and the opportunity came up and I couldn’t resist. The bags are aimed at everyone being a Kim Jones fan, Mulberry others and anyone else who likes them.

What is the most interesting part of male fashion in 2005?
The fact you can be a bit more creative as the guys on the street tends to take more risks shopping nowadays.

And finally…
In your opinion, what three items of clothing should be in every mans wardrobe?
A pair of jeans
A pair of Kim Jones trainers! (Joke, but trainers yes)
A basic cashmere jumper
and anything from Ralph Lauren!

Umbro x Kim Jones finns att köpa på Beneath i Stockholm.