Exclusive Interview with Designer Marina Hoermanseder

Somewhere over the rainbow, you are sure to find one of Berlin Fashion Week’s brightest stars: Marina Hoermanseder.

Founded in 2013, Marina’s eponymous label has become one of Germany’s most recognisable brands. While designs are easily spotted by the signature belt buckles, the Austrian designer always advances and alters her works. Often contrasting leather with softer fabrics like tulle and ruffles, Marina’s creations sculpt the body in a feminine, yet powerful shape. For her fans, she always wondering what she will imagine for the next runway. In her whimsical Spring/Summer 2019 collection, Marina Hoermanseder created fantasy and wonder. With the transparent version of the beloved strap skirt, plenty of holographic patterns and romantic heart shapes scattered throughout the show, the latest collection introduces a kaleidoscope of colours and imagery. Juxtaposing materials like latex and knitwear, Marina was able to produce optical illusions out of the ballerina-like silhouettes. During the finale, Marina herself buckled up her own rainbow strap skirt, bringing a fairy tale ending to her show. Latest Magazine conducted an interview afterwards with the young, but influential designer.

There is indeed one person I would love to see in MH – Duchess Meghan.

1. Your designs always remain very playful and youthful; at what age did you begin your journey as a fashion designer?

After high school my dad kind of forced me to learn „something with perspective“ so I started studying International Business Administration and made my masters degree in Vienna, London and Hawaii. After that I was finally allowed to study fashion. Therefore I moved to Berlin at the age of 24 –a great age to start – still playful and carefree, but old enough to know not to be soaked in with Berlin’s party scene. So while my friends were partying I spent my days and nights working on my collections and ideas. During my internship at Alexander Mc- Queen in 2012 I learned what it means to work hard in the fashion industry and knew that this was going to be my right path. I founded my label in 2014 for which I am still working hard every day to be successful.

Runway

Spring/Summer 2019

2. The evolution of your label has been quite rapid, yet your oeuvre remains iconic and true to you. How would you describe your person style and your brand’s image?

Using orthopaedics as my main inspiration in the beginning, leather sculptures and the buckle are my iconic elements – not only because I love working with them but also because they have become the brands corporate identity. Thats why you will always find buckles in any variations in my collections... mini, maxi, knitted, printed... I also love playing with contrasts – hard and soft, cute and fetish. In order not to go to much into the fetish direction I never used any black leather up until my 6th collection – before it was always soft colours. Although we have added a lot of wearable, sellable pieces in the collections, my heart definitely beats for the moulded leather pieces – they are my passion and what keeps me up all night. I love every step of working the raw leather, moulding it, edge painting, airbrushing and finishing up.

3. What was the inspiration behind your Spring/Summer 2019 collection?

The inspiration for this collection was a wonderland of satirical allusions and optical illusions. I don’t have this perfect one red thread story throughout the collection this time – I just created pieces I had fun designing and making. My favourite pieces are the ballerina dress, the optical illusion vase and the white Elvis Presley suit with all the buckles – although the transparent strap skirt is super hot too.

4. And now that the show is over, what are you most proud from this season?

You know... every season when I get off the catwalk my first thought is always „Wow what am I gonna do next season?! I am empty of ideas – I have given everything this time“ ... and I guess every season I am so proud I actually made it to get a new collection out with new impressions, ideas, materials ...!

5. Your creations have been worn by many celebrities like Nicki Minaj, Lady Gaga and FKA Twigs, who would you like to see wearing a piece from your latest collection?

There is indeed one person I would love to see in MH – Duchess Meghan. But I am afraid my style is a bit too eccentric. So for the collection I would see it perfectly on Katy Perry, Ariana Grande or Miley Cyrus. But I honestly love every woman and would love to see them wearing MH proudly and confidently.

6. You have achieved so much in quite a short time, what can we expect from you next?

I can’t really tell, because I am always full of inspirations and ideas and in the end I am overwhelmed J I am quite a restless person so you never know what to expect. But the US market is becoming more and more important for us, I definitely want to do more stuff overseas – maybe a little presentation or so ... to start off. You know in the beginning I was asked „where do you see yourself in 3 years“ and I wouldn’t have dared to even think of all the stuff that could happen in these 3 years. So I am more than thankful for everything and I hope that I will say the same in 3 years from now.