Konrad Parol is one of the new upcoming menswear designers that is causing shock in the world of fashion, his dark aesthetic, mixed with a twisted touch of fragility has captivated the eyes of the public & insiders from the industry, with already few collections including spring summer 2011( running) and fall winter 2011 to run soon, Konrad has achieved the appreciation of his work and the good response from the tough world of fashion, his uniqueness sensibility to recreate and design pieces that push the sartorial limits of menswear have build for him a long road on the industry, besides his press has extend all over the globe via blogs and magazines, which lead us to the question of when is Konrad extending his business globally?, because we know there will be many people waiting for that to happen, but as everything should be, his taking things with patience and always looking forward to continue leaving his incredible footprints in the world of fashion.
Jhon Santos: Hi Konrad how are you ? by the way I’m so glad you accept this interview.
Konrad Parol:Good thanks for asking, It is a pleasure to do this interview with Metrovelvet.
JS: How’s a day in the life of Konrad Parol?
KP: Quite simply. I’m starting with breakfast, then ride the bike a little workout in the gym or the pool. Now, when it is spring and summer only moving around on a bike around the city. During the day I’m in my studio to see what is happening and how to progress in work. Several meetings we’re more or less important. At the end of a meeting with friends at an intimate dinner or in the pub. A day like everyday. Nothing special.
JS: Where are you actually from ?
KP: I was born, lived and now live in Warsaw, Poland. But it pulls me further into the world.
JS: A what age did you felt that your passion was fashion and off course having your own label ?
KP: Since birth, I was gifted artistically, a lot of painting, I drew. In high school I discovered that I’d like to design clothes. I was then about 16 years.
Only with time and with maturity came a willingness to turn this into a business, to create my vision and infect the people around her.
JS: What’s fashion for you?
KP: This is my passion, my D.N.A., my love. When others go, fashion stay, I’ve only love fashion. I would like to leave something behind, to save the human consciousness, fashion gives me this possibility, is the carrier of my vision.
JS: Who and what inspires your creations ?
KP: I didn’t have to look far to find my inspiration: I started to listen to my own needs, focus on who I am, what I dream of and how I would like to be understood. Inspirations are everywhere around. Surround us at every step, everything you need to carefully observe.
JS: Top five people you consider fashion icons?
KP: Terence Koh, Kate Moss, Tilda Swinton, Paul Newman and Róisín Murphy.
JS: Any favorite designers?
KP: Many… Damir Doma, Gareth Pugh, Juun J., Rick Owens, Junya Watanabe, Dries Van Noten…etc.
JS: When did you launched your first womenswear collection ? and why did you jumped to have menswear line?
KP: My adventure with fashion began from the design for women. But really, don`t really know what I want to do. Don`t remember that period well.
After several years struggling to become something very wrong. I was robbed of the entire oeuvre of several years of work by my so-called fashion agent, which was to represent me in London. I’ve lost everything, two collections, a lot of money and which is worst self-confidence and what I do, which really to this day I could not recover.
It was really tough for me. So I need to clean my decks and delete all negative emotions. That was the main reason to design my first mens collection. After this experience I concluded that design for the guys give me a freedom that I never had designing for women. I’m in the freer, more mature, it makes me wild joy and pleasure.
JS: How can you describe you aesthetic as a menswear designer?
KP: Seeking new experiences, new solutions.
JS: Two words that can describe your work?
KP: Excitement & the unknown.
JS: What is the idea behind EMBER menswear collection spring summer 2011 ?
KP: Collection was the primary inspiration by people living under ground. The common denominator between the two collections this EMBER and my previous REBELS is a novel by HG Wells “The Time Machine”. Last time I portrayed a master race, this time in EMBER portrayed the race of slaves, who live underground. These are strong and proud people. This collection is more severe and harsh than the last. I wanted to emphasize masculinity of this race, their brutality, their bellicose nature.
JS: Why the name EMBER?
KP: Ember is the lost city, forgotten by humanity, in which live the heroes of my last collection.
S/S 2011 Look Book Photography by: Krzysztof Wyżyński / Model: Michał Słowikowski | Rebel Models
JS: What kind of materials did you used for this collection ?
KP: From fabrics besides the dominant cotton, I also used lurex, foam, neoprene, mesh and even plexiglass.
JS: How you manage mysterious ,darkness and style into something high fashion for menswear ?
KP: I believe in the rule,The man comes first, the idea comes second.” It is important for me that one gets dressed and not dressed up”. The outfit should always suit the situation. Everything is for the people, you need to know how to find a middle ground which is not easy, but search for it, brings us closer to the final result. All this makes the end result even more exciting and prey.
JS: What’s the next step for Konrad Parol ,where are we going to see you soon?
KP: Most recently, I presented the latest and freshest collections for Fall – Winter 2011/12. During the Polish Fashion Week in the Łódź.
JS: Any hints about your Fall / Winter 2011 collection?
KP: Here you have short notice about my last collection.
LES MARCENAIRES A/W 11/12
Konrad Parol‘s autumn winter collection LES MERCENAIRES is the next rebeliant uncover of the designer. This time it is much more conscious and mature. LES MERCENAIRES are the 21st Century contestants.
The subject of rebels and outsiders, presented in collections for several seasons, this time was reinterpreted in a more contemporary way. The starting point for designing the collection was a romantic rebel fighting for a just cause. Konrad Parol proposes a figure that is rough and geometric. It is dominated by architectural forms and the asceticism of the line. The seemingly drab colors have been broken by strong and orange accents.
What characterize Parol‘s style is a form and great quality; the clothes were made of high quality fabrics and materials: cotton, leather and wool. The whole perfectly harmonized with the industrial space of factory where the premiere took place and touchy sounds composed by PLEQ.
Konrad Parol’s collection, PLEQ’s music and the interior of factory, worked for the third time.
JS: What’s the advice that Konrad Parol can give to all the young people with the same dreams in the fashion industry ?
KP: Difficult question. First of all to believe in what you are doing and in yourself. without self-confidence, we stuck with the opinions and whims of others which are not always fair. Secondly, it is important to self-denial and humility, an ocean of humility, hard work, it is easy to zachłysnąc moment of triumph and settle for complacency.
If you care to get to something in this industry, you have to sell this, to pay all of you and be loyal. For this little bit of luck and you’re in paradise.
Thanks Konrad Parol for this great interview!.
JS: Konrad words are the perfect demonstration of whiling to continue working hard in life for your dreams without letting anyone to ruin them, even in the most hard situations, you have to look up, never give up and always looking forward to faith that there’s no boundaries to your dreams, here in Metrovelvet we are glad to have this interview with Konrad Parol, we will keep looking forward to continue supporting his wonderful work in the fashion industry .
ByJhon Jairo Santos
FASHION EDITOR Miami Division
Jsantos@Metrovelvet.com
FALL/WINTER Photography by Michał Tuliński / Moda Forte.