I wish I could have accepted artist Andre Niemeyer’s invitation to the launch of his fashion line (images above) at Poeira, a gorgeous boutique in Rio’s coolest district, Leblon (sadly, I can’t jump on a flight to Rio on a moment’s notice...). But I’ve just caught up with Andre to find out how it went and ask how he combines being both a fashion designer and artist. His striking, mug shot-like paintings can currently be found at Saatchi Online, a great platform for artists not represented by galleries to showcase their work.
How did the launch at Poeira go?
It went really well. Everyone really liked the clothes, which are very simple, with a focus on prints that my partner Vassia Tolstoi and I design exclusively. We sell small quantities and worked only with silk satin in the first collection.
(In Portuguese)
O lançamento foi muito bacana. As pessoas gostaram bastante das roupas, que são bem simples, pois nossa ênfase é nas estampas, que criamos, eu e meu sócio, Vassia Tolstoi, exclusivamente e produzimos em pouquissima quantidade. Na primeira coleçao, trabalhamos somente com cetim de seda.
What’s the inspiration behind the collection?
The graphic prints are inspired by modern art, by the Russian Constructivism movement (Vassia is French, with Russian roots), by the Amazon. Our clients are women who like art and timeless clothes of high quality. We like to think that our clothes make women happy. We really enjoyed making the collection and hope women will enjoy wearing it.
As estampas são bastante gráficas, inspiradas em na arte moderna, no construtivismo russo ( Vassia é francês de origem russo) e brasileiro, e também em fotografias da Amazónia realizadas por ele. Nossa cliente ao que tudo indica, são mulheres que gostam de arte, de roupas bem feitas e atemporais. Gostamos de pensar que nossa roupa é pra fazer pessoas felizes. Temos muito prazer em cria las e esperamos que seja tambem um prazer usa las.
Why did you decide to launch the collection at Poeira?
We didn’t choose Poeira; Monica Pernaguião, the owner, chose us. She came to our house once and really liked what Vassia and Daniela (a friend) were wearing, clothes I’d made or them. She asked if they were for sale, and it was then that we came up with the idea to create a fashion line.
Não escolhemos a Poeira para lançarmos nossa coleção, mas fomos escolhidos por Monica Pernaguião, a arquiteta, proprietaria da loja, uma portuguesa radicada no Rio, que em uma visita a nossa casa, vendo as roupas da mulher do Vassia, Daniela, que é uma grande amiga e para quem sempre fiz muitas roupas desde de quando moravamos em Paris. Perguntou nos se estavam a venda, dai nos aflorou a vontade de criar nossa linha.
How do you manage to be both an artist and a fashion designer?
I trained as a designer at the Senai Cetiqt in Rio. My mum and my aunts were seamstresses and I was always drawing as a child. I almost went to Belas Artes, but instead, I studied industrial design, then fashion. There’s no conflict between painting and making clothes. Vassia is also a photographer and art director, so whilst our paths are different, with our focus on prints, they are also complementary.
Minha primeira formaçao foi de estilista no Senai Cetiqt, minha mãe costurava, minhas tias também e eu sempre desenhei muito desde bem pequeno. Quase fui para Belas Artes, mas cursei desenho industrial e depois moda. Não há conflito nenhum em pintar e fazer roupas, dai nosso interesse em focar nas estampas, Vassia também é fotografo e diretor de arte, então nossos caminhos são diferentes, mas complementares.
Read more!
Posts
