As featured in the first episode of our i-Sustain series, Andrew Stevens and Karoline Stromme, the folk behind Borders & Fronters are fashion designers with one eye firmly on OUR future!
i-D Online took ten with the altruistic artisans and talked quality, quantity and a brighter future.
Why do you think you’re part of this project? Possibly because of our general approach, and our way of working more around projects than conventional collections.
Do you have a philosophy? Quality over quantity, heritage, craftsmanship and innovation. To work alongside individuals who are excellent within their field and to facilitate cross pollination through collaborations. New areas of design and media will always be a driving force.
Who or what inspires you? Sources of inspiration are endless, but these are areas we consistently return to: natural science, technology, the social sciences, travel, design, photography, film and music. Additionally, individuals who defy the acceptable and exceed the expected, who embody an inherit wisdom and worldliness. The likes of Earl Nightingale, John Goddard, Jacques Cousteau, Jane Goodall, David Attenborough, David Lynch, Phillip Glass, Patti Smith and many more.
What would you take to the streets and protest about? Equal opportunities and a system not based on money as debt.
What’s unique about your work? Perhaps that we hail from non-fashion backgrounds, specifically graphics and social sciences, which informs our way of thinking and how we work.
What could you do better? Take more time off, and learn to “switch off” more. Time away is invaluable in terms of a refreshed mind, and feeling re-vitalised.
What are you working on now? We are currently planning a few field trips, working on our spring/summer 12 collection, developing our accessories range and working on some new collaborations.
Borders & Frontiers can be purchased from 69b and ASOS in the UK; Beams, Museum Neu and Frees International in Japan; and I.T in Hong Kong.
Head here to read more, much more galore from our i-Sustain series.
