During our interview, Elizabeth Schweiger, as the designer relies, dressed in everything black. It looks at the same time, on the one hand, quite careless, on the other, is incredibly stylish. "Elegant simplicity" - under this motto Laurèl has already exists more than forty years (the year of foundation is 1978). Elizabeth, which works with a brand since 1996, clearly follows this motto.
- Elizabeth, you are at the head of Laurèl for many years. This is not an easy task: twice a year - you want or not - to release a new collection. How much does it give that you constantly need to come up with something?
- If we talk about me, then I am creative by nature. Because I'm looking for something inspiration every day. And I get it every day. Every day I want something new. And probably, if I didn't live, it would really give me enough and it would be enough to invent collections. But if I tell me tomorrow that you need to do 12 different those collections, 12 different lines, I would also do it too. Because I have constantly craving for creative, for something new, thrust to communicate with the outside world. In addition, next to me is a team of my designers who are all different. I have two designers, senior design assistants, they are 50 years old. And there are also young designers who are 25, 27, by 28, and they carry their ideas. We very often sit down and begin to discuss. "Oh, I was at such an exhibition, found such an idea there!" Or: "I looked at the film" ... This is a permanent process, without which I no longer imagine my life - without this communication, without constant ideas, without any faith. And with the team I feel inspiration inside myself.
- You travel a lot. Draw inspiration at your trips?
- Probably traveling precisely and make up the bulk of my inspiration. For example, I came to Moscow, went through the streets, went into a conceptual store, visited some shopping centers - and already found something new, which is beginning to inspire me. Just see new places, see another country - always for me inspiration.
"Moscow has changed very much in recent years. Fashion changes on the streets"
- The last time you were in Moscow for about six years ago, when came here with your new collection. During these years, we have changed a lot?
- Yes very much. First of all, I would like to note how fashion changes on the streets. The main thing I noted is: people changed in their manner to dress. Very much now fashionable and stylishly dressed people. Many people who are dressed are convenient - those who prefer the so-called Sport-Chic style. I also spied on those women who did shopping. It was very interesting. For example, I drew attention to the lady, which was a little over sixty, but she chose a very interesting sweatshot with embroidery and asymmetrical cut from Dries Vannoten. I still thought: as you can wear this, probably, it's even a little bit wrong ... But I saw that Russian women are just open to fashion, quite bold. I do not know whether the woman bought the woman in the end sweet. But I realized that Russian women are ready to experiment, they are ready to try something new and not afraid. They are not clamped right now as a few years ago. People are more democratic, more open, more sporty, more dynamic. This is the main one.
- Your Spring-summer collection is very bright and cheerful. What is from this collection in favorites and what, in your opinion, is MUST Have?
- Probably the most hit - a dress with colorful stripes, which can be worn and separately as a dress on buttons, and like a summer coat - along with pants. Pants under it I offer quite wide. This is now my favorite combination - a long dress and pants. If we talk about a striped dress on the buttons, then I believe that it is suitable for any occasions. You can travel in it, and be on vacation, and go somewhere at a party in the city. I also really like for a special exit, it is for some special occasion, a set of lemon color. It presents a pleated skirt with an uneven asymmetric edge - this is now a real trend. And you can decorate this skirt with a feminine riding. Something with ruffles or some interesting elements attached volume.
The collection turned out to be bright and cheerful
- When you develop your new collections, somehow share: this thing is to accurately assess Russians, and this will have to do, for example, Italian?
- Today, the world probably became almost the same. Of course, I think about my clients, I know for whom I do one or another collection. But mostly these collections are being done so that they are designed for a woman who is universal. Because in Russia, and in other countries, the style of plus-minus became the same. Yes, earlier, Russian women loved, probably a little more bright style, more paying attention. But now more and more peacefully, modern, everyone is followed by trends. If we are talking about certain areas of women in different countries of the world, we can say that now even in the business women should no longer strictly adhere to the dress code, no one requires a mandatory costume in the office. Therefore, if a business woman comes to work in wide trousers, interesting, but neat, with a good style of feminine blouse, no one will ask her: where did you leave the jacket? And, probably, it concerns Russian women. I don't know exactly, but I suspect that it is.
The only thing I do only for the Russian market is a beautiful pencil skirt. Because, for example, in Germany, women prefer long, more sporting skirts, free, from cotton - to conveniently be in such a skirt all day. Maybe the pencil skirt is still interesting for the Italian market and Spanish, because there women also love models of such a style. But basically I am inventing pants of different styles, it is now a trend global and European.
This dress can be worn and separately as a dress on buttons, and as a summer coat.
- There are two points of view on the wardrobe. Some advise free space from unnecessary things at least once every six months. Other them object: they say, it should not be hurry, each thing must be searched, and in general the vintage is so trend. You, as a designer, what advise: release a place for new things from fresh collections or store?
- If you look at the situation with the eyes of the manufacturer's company, then, of course, it is better if every six months the consumer changes the wardrobe. But my personal attitude towards things is very careful. Because I as a designer and a person who works in a premium segment, I believe that clothes are an investment. And what if you spend some not the smallest amount on the thing, then she must serve you longer than one season, you should get the opportunity to combine it in the future in new combinations. Laurèl does not make trendy collections that are intended for one season. Our things live at least two to three seasons. With warranty including quality. And in content. For example, a blazer that can be combined in one season with a shortened pencil skirt, and next season you can wear with a long chiffon dress. And you will look like a fashionable again. Now this is a new trend - to stylize things, be able to combine them, mix together. This is real art, we will comprehend that is under the power of each!