— FASHION — INTERVIEW
NEIGE, from Poland to the world
INTERVIEW PHOTOGRAPHY MARIANNA SZCZERBA
CAMPAIGN PHOTOGRAPHY MACIEJ SWISTEK
NEIGE is a Polish brand which focuses on streetwear. It creates clothes for youngsters based on modern minimalism mixed with unique designs. The brand's trademark are perfectly fitted details. Streetwear mixes there with casual elegance. The designs are brave and well-fitted, which makes every single collection part of a coherent whole. The brand was created in 2011. It is recognizable since few years, as it was presented in many top-class shops on all continents. Its braveness is approved both by artists and stylists, as well as bloggers, which grants NEIGE a place on the worldwide map of streetwear fashion.
We talked to NEIGE's creative director and wanted to find out more about his work and projects.
HOW WAS NEIGE BORN? WHAT IS YOUR BALANCE OF ITS EVOLUTION AS A BRAND?
During my studies about 7-8 years ago I had a very intensive time when I really changed my interests and determined my life goals. I don’t know why but I decided to do graphic design overnight. At first I put all my works in a drawer but later tried to look for a way to show them to the public. At the same time I built a screen printing set and started experimenting with prints on T-shirts. My first attempts went to my friends and then when I became satisfied with the effects I opened my first online shop. There have been a few years since my first collections thus both aesthetics and profile of my target clients have changed with my development. I really associate with my creations. I like when everything is polished but also surprising. I think I’m still building the NEIGE style and I’m happy it’s an evolution not revolution. Rush or too much drivenness can kill the true spirit of our work.
WHO DO YOU THINK OF WHEN YOU DESIGN YOUR GARMENTS? WHAT PUBLIC INSPIRES YOU TO CREATE YOUR FASHION IMAGERY?
I design a new brand concept with my each collection. It sometimes refers to a person, a place or an event. But I think that most often I get back to a human as an individual in the culture and society. I'm inherently curious, I like watching and reaching goals outside the box. I appreciate creating off the chain where even chance can be important. I think I’m still building my workflow and I already know it’s gonna be hard to find the perfect one as I know I like changing many things during my work. The same with inspirations which are a mix of figures and personalities from the time of my early youth and the present. For example, in my current collection I blended a Polish skater from the 00s and the elegance from the latest fashion shows in Paris. Old to the new seems to be the best description of NEIGE in 2020.
WHAT DOES STREETWEAR MEAN TO YOU? DO YOU THINK IT WILL DIE ONE DAY, AS SOME EXPERTS PREDICT?
Streetwear is a very broad notion to me because it involves the period from the time when hip hop emerged until now. It contains a lot of history despite being in the fashion consciousness for a relatively short time. As we can see, now there’s a time when it started living on its own and broke away from the music it was created with. If I had to describe what streetwear is to me I would say it’s freedom in the context of clothing and subcultures in the society. Thanks to its commonness it won’t disappear from the world of fashion. It may become less popular but I believe it will always find its addressee.
ARE YOU TRYING TO GET OUT OF THE TREND, OR IS IT INEVITABLE?
I never tried to be in or out of the trend. It seems to me that extremes in life are never a good solution so I put impact on authenticity. If one trend matches my collection in my opinion, I don’t hesitate to use it my way. It’s an individual question and everybody should do what they feel.
DO YOU THINK THAT SUSTAINABLE FASHION CAN BE CONNECTED TO STREETWEAR?
Despite the fact that streetwear is only a small part of a huge fashion industry, it should already go this way. It’s actually our thing, now matter how big our impact is we should learn good habits. We are in an important place because what the Earth will look like depends on our generation. Having known these problems, from the very beginning of NEIGE we’ve been trying to make things which are very limited or to order to curb overproduction as much as possible. We sew with high quality fabrics in order to extend a lifespan of each product. From this season we are introducing T-shirts made of organic cotton which we are going to use to make more and more clothes.
YOUR COLLECTIONS ARE CHARACTERIZED BY CREATING UNIQUE DESIGNS, FOCUSING ON DETAILS AND WITH GREAT QUALITY. HOW DO YOU SEE THE FUTURE OF YOUR BRAND?
I would like to develop my brand’s DNA to make its style evolve but also to make it recognizable at first sight. For all the time that has passed I feel like I'm at the very beginning of my way. I still have more ideas than space in my collections and every new design makes me happy. I would like to work with interesting people more. Especially from our local field. That’s why I invited one of the painters from my city Opole to work at my future collection. I’m also working at an innovative design which links fashion, music and audiovisual arts.
YOU ARE NOW WORKING TOGETHER WITH THE BERLIN BASED AGENCY AP STUDIOS BY ALEXANDRA PREUSCHE. HOW DID THIS HAPPEN? HOW DO YOU SEE THE FIT POLAND / BERLIN, GERMANY?
I met Alexandra a few years ago in my showroom in Paris. I remember we wanted to collaborate at once but we were too busy. During the pandemic of COVID19 when everybody had an opportunity to slow down we managed to discuss details and start our collaboration. I’m very happy because Alexandra understands my aesthetics and I trust her agency’s professionalism which gives me more freedom in my creation. Despite we live in different countries, we have quite a short way to each other. Berlin is one of my favorite cities and I also know German culture so such links aren’t a problem for me.
YOU CAN ENJOY ALL COLLECTIONS AND BUY AT NEIGETEES.COM
— FASHION — INTERVIEW
NEIGE, from Poland to the world
INTERVIEW PHOTOGRAPHY MARIANNA SZCZERBA
CAMPAIGN PHOTOGRAPHY MACIEJ SWISTEK
NEIGE is a Polish brand which focuses on streetwear. It creates clothes for youngsters based on modern minimalism mixed with unique designs. The brand's trademark are perfectly fitted details. Streetwear mixes there with casual elegance. The designs are brave and well-fitted, which makes every single collection part of a coherent whole. The brand was created in 2011. It is recognizable since few years, as it was presented in many top-class shops on all continents. Its braveness is approved both by artists and stylists, as well as bloggers, which grants NEIGE a place on the worldwide map of streetwear fashion.
We talked to NEIGE's creative director and wanted to find out more about his work and projects.
HOW WAS NEIGE BORN? WHAT IS YOUR BALANCE OF ITS EVOLUTION AS A BRAND?
During my studies about 7-8 years ago I had a very intensive time when I really changed my interests and determined my life goals. I don’t know why but I decided to do graphic design overnight. At first I put all my works in a drawer but later tried to look for a way to show them to the public. At the same time I built a screen printing set and started experimenting with prints on T-shirts. My first attempts went to my friends and then when I became satisfied with the effects I opened my first online shop. There have been a few years since my first collections thus both aesthetics and profile of my target clients have changed with my development. I really associate with my creations. I like when everything is polished but also surprising. I think I’m still building the NEIGE style and I’m happy it’s an evolution not revolution. Rush or too much drivenness can kill the true spirit of our work.
WHO DO YOU THINK OF WHEN YOU DESIGN YOUR GARMENTS? WHAT PUBLIC INSPIRES YOU TO CREATE YOUR FASHION IMAGERY?
I design a new brand concept with my each collection. It sometimes refers to a person, a place or an event. But I think that most often I get back to a human as an individual in the culture and society. I'm inherently curious, I like watching and reaching goals outside the box. I appreciate creating off the chain where even chance can be important. I think I’m still building my workflow and I already know it’s gonna be hard to find the perfect one as I know I like changing many things during my work. The same with inspirations which are a mix of figures and personalities from the time of my early youth and the present. For example, in my current collection I blended a Polish skater from the 00s and the elegance from the latest fashion shows in Paris. Old to the new seems to be the best description of NEIGE in 2020.
WHAT DOES STREETWEAR MEAN TO YOU? DO YOU THINK IT WILL DIE ONE DAY, AS SOME EXPERTS PREDICT?
Streetwear is a very broad notion to me because it involves the period from the time when hip hop emerged until now. It contains a lot of history despite being in the fashion consciousness for a relatively short time. As we can see, now there’s a time when it started living on its own and broke away from the music it was created with. If I had to describe what streetwear is to me I would say it’s freedom in the context of clothing and subcultures in the society. Thanks to its commonness it won’t disappear from the world of fashion. It may become less popular but I believe it will always find its addressee.
ARE YOU TRYING TO GET OUT OF THE TREND, OR IS IT INEVITABLE?
I never tried to be in or out of the trend. It seems to me that extremes in life are never a good solution so I put impact on authenticity. If one trend matches my collection in my opinion, I don’t hesitate to use it my way. It’s an individual question and everybody should do what they feel.
DO YOU THINK THAT SUSTAINABLE FASHION CAN BE CONNECTED TO STREETWEAR?
Despite the fact that streetwear is only a small part of a huge fashion industry, it should already go this way. It’s actually our thing, now matter how big our impact is we should learn good habits. We are in an important place because what the Earth will look like depends on our generation. Having known these problems, from the very beginning of NEIGE we’ve been trying to make things which are very limited or to order to curb overproduction as much as possible. We sew with high quality fabrics in order to extend a lifespan of each product. From this season we are introducing T-shirts made of organic cotton which we are going to use to make more and more clothes.
YOUR COLLECTIONS ARE CHARACTERIZED BY CREATING UNIQUE DESIGNS, FOCUSING ON DETAILS AND WITH GREAT QUALITY. HOW DO YOU SEE THE FUTURE OF YOUR BRAND?
I would like to develop my brand’s DNA to make its style evolve but also to make it recognizable at first sight. For all the time that has passed I feel like I'm at the very beginning of my way. I still have more ideas than space in my collections and every new design makes me happy. I would like to work with interesting people more. Especially from our local field. That’s why I invited one of the painters from my city Opole to work at my future collection. I’m also working at an innovative design which links fashion, music and audiovisual arts.
YOU ARE NOW WORKING TOGETHER WITH THE BERLIN BASED AGENCY AP STUDIOS BY ALEXANDRA PREUSCHE. HOW DID THIS HAPPEN? HOW DO YOU SEE THE FIT POLAND / BERLIN, GERMANY?
I met Alexandra a few years ago in my showroom in Paris. I remember we wanted to collaborate at once but we were too busy. During the pandemic of COVID19 when everybody had an opportunity to slow down we managed to discuss details and start our collaboration. I’m very happy because Alexandra understands my aesthetics and I trust her agency’s professionalism which gives me more freedom in my creation. Despite we live in different countries, we have quite a short way to each other. Berlin is one of my favorite cities and I also know German culture so such links aren’t a problem for me.
YOU CAN ENJOY ALL COLLECTIONS AND BUY AT NEIGETEES.COM
