Michael Kampe bases his trademark aesthetic and design philosophy on distancing his label from 21st century, mass-production processes, he is the unwearable designer with super-sized talent.
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Considering fashion as an art form, Berlin based menswear designer Michael explores the construction of textiles and materials within his work. More concerned with collectors than consumers, the twenty-four-year-old graduate from Antwerp’s Royal Academy of Fine Arts had a burgeoning interest in machinery and his own imagination before he began experimenting with illustration and understanding style.
Exaggerating each of his garments silhouettes with elaborate, disjointed graphics and oversized, constructed padding and detailing, Michael’s outfits are small architectural works of art and his label’s sensibilities lie closer to those of haute couture masters Viktor & Rolf who are, incidentally, fans. Working closely with denim brand Diesel, Michael is also now fixing his eyes on building his brand. i-D online caught up with the 3D visionary to chat trends and how they descend.
How long have you been designing? I enjoyed developing machines, stories and dishes before and then focussed on clothes by the age of 18.
Where are you based? Berlin and Antwerp.
What’s inspiring you this season? Architecture, submarines and tectonic plates.
Who is your style icon? No one specific. I like heavy workwear and how the use of the garment influences its look and fit, this is a sort of icon to me.
Favourite…
Up-and-coming designer: Sasa Kovacevic.
Film: Ex Drummer.
Record: Welcome to the Night Sky, Wintersleep.
Place: Berlin.
Person: Caspar David Friedrich.
Colour: Steelblue.
What’s next? Working in a design team for a in addition to designing for my own label.
Text: Milly McMahon
