Leaving behind a career as a successful architect, German-born Siki Im founded his own even MORE successful menswear label in 2009, scooping the uber-coveted Ecco Domani prize last year. Inspired by the concept of globalisation, his S/S12 collection (pictured here) merged elements of Western and Middle Eastern influences – we can’t wait to see what he comes up with for A/W12!
SS: Much is made of your background in architecture – what elements of this training do you feel contribute to your clothing design process? Is there a set of values or design principles in one that are directly transferable to the other?
SI: I believe my training as an architect helps me a lot with the construction of a garment. Also in my opinion, architecture is not just about mere buildings – not just spaces that are physical, but also metaphysical, psychological, political, etc. The same thing goes for fashion – I think it is not only about garments.
SS: Is it right that you trained in the UK?
SI: Yes. I studied at the Oxford School of Architecture and worked as an architect in Germany, Korea, and the USA.
SS: Was there a particular epiphany moment where you decided you had abandon architecture and do fashion?
SI: I never did. I just took a break. I fell into fashion by pure coincidence, or it was meant to be. I recently concluded a space with my prior firm Architeconics. We build a space at the Arnhem mode Bienale
SS: When you sit down and begin on the design process where do you draw inspiration from? Is it from quantifiable reference points such as street/fashion history, or are you looking to bring things from outside existing style references into your work?
SI: I usually start with a feeling. This takes time to manifest. First it’s somewhere inside my body, then slowly moves to my head.
SS: There is a real urban sensibility in your work for me, i.e. the feeling that even when some of the reference points aren’t so obviously rooted in the city (such as in the fall collection). It still has that tough sense of urbanity to it – would you agree with this?
SI: Well this is nice observation. I grew up and now live in a very urban environment. I can’t escape my surroundings in NYC.
SS: I read somewhere that you had abandoned architecture because you wanted your work ‘to live on humans’. Is your sense of who you are designing for quite specific? What is your perception of the Siki Im man?
SI: I think fashion and architecture is about accommodating and building spaces for the body. It is specific until you design for a mass brand – or design an airport. I believe that the Siki Im man is a quiet but strong person.
SS: Is there ever an interest to work on womenswear at all?
SI: Yes there is.
SS: You won the Ecco Domani prize last year. What doors has that opened for you?
SI: I won this prize two years ago for my first collection. It helped me to be among great prior winners, and of course financially.
SS: A lot of your collections have been accompanied by films/animations. Do you have an interest in the Internet as a presentation medium from a designer perspective, or digital or online art in general?
SI: I am huge fan of William Gibson and William Mitchel. Both predicted that the virtual reality would become more and more real – which it has. The Internet is great and dangerous at the same time. We can loose ourselves if we are not aware. It is a tool and not a substitute. As long as we can use all our senses, we need to explore all worlds.
Words: William Edwin Wright
