DESIGNER'S DOORWAY

Camilla Staerk

IN THIS FEATURE: Meet Camilla Fashion Focus Biography

orn in Denmark, Camilla moved to London in 1996 where she attended a foundation course in Fashion and Illustration at the London College of Fashion. She built upon that with a 3 year BA (Honours) in Fashion with Textiles, at Ravensbourne College of Design and Communication. With a 1st Class Degree, Camilla’s Graduate Show received critical acclaim on an International level and her garments instantly sold at the London boutique Browns Focus and at Maria Luisa in Paris. The collection featured old–fashioned hand sewing and bespoke techniques, such as hand stitched leather skirts with uneven waistbands and delicate tops draped from silk tulle and hairnets.

The reaction to her dark romantic designs was fantastic with reviews appearing in several publications world wide such as WWD New York, Elle Paris, Sunday Times Style and Camilla was hailed ‘a future star’ by British Vogue.

Survival of the fittest: What is one item in your closet that you will never get rid of?

MY GRANDMOTHER’S BROWN MINK STOLE. HER INITIALS ARE EMBROIDERED INSIDE. SHE WAS VERY CHIC AND DIED WHEN I WAS VERY YOUNG. I WOULD GO THROUGH HER CLOSET. SHE KEPT HER CLOTHES IN CLEAR PLASTIC. I LOVE VINTAGE SHOES. I REALIZED WHEN I WOULD PICK THEM UP THEY WERE ALWAYS BALLY. MY GRANDMOTHER ALWAYS WORE BALLY. SHE HAD A BIG TABLE WITH A MIRROR AND ALL THIS JEWELRY.

Name an actor/singer/celebrity whose wardrobe you admire the most.

THE FIRST MEN’S COLLECTION WAS BASED ON NICK CAVE. HE’S SO HOT. I LOVE HIS MUSIC, HIS FILMS. HE’S SO TALENTED WITH AN AMAZING SENSE OF HUMOR. SO THE MENSWEAR HAS LOTS OF SUITS, TIGHT PANTS, SOMETIMES SHORT FOR ROCK AND ROLL BOOTS. TIGHT FITTING SHIRTS, PRINTS. I WAS ALSO INSPIRED BY FILMMAKER MAYA DARREN AND JOY DIVISION VIDEOS. IT WAS A NEW RAVE FUN STATEMENT, NOT A PERSONAL ONE. I’VE NEVER WORKED WITH SUCH STRONG COLORS, BUT IT FELT LIKE A NEW BEGINNING, MOVING HERE TO NEW YORK.

If you had to describe your personal style in one word, what would it be?

CLEAN: MY WHOLE FAMILY IS IN DANISH FURNITURE DESIGN, A MIX OF ELEMENT AND VINTAGE ELEMENTS. IT’S VERY CLEAN.