Designer Paula Knorr

INNOVATIVE IMPRESSIONS

German born creative womenswear designer Paula Knorr, not only lives and works in London, but she studied at the Royal College of Art, in where she graduated in 2015. Following this, she worked as a freelance designer for Peter Pilotto, and on different projects with well-known fashion stylists to capitalise on her strength in creating innovative draping and cutting techniques.

In late 2015 she launched her own namesake fashion label, Paula Knorr, and was awarded the NEWGEN prize by the British Fashion Council. Her feminine designs are created within her home-country of Germany, using exceptional materials from Italian and French mills. Knorr has a growing reputation as one of London’s most exciting and talented designers, with her designs being worn by the likes of BJÖRK and Solange Knowles.

Her latest collection plays with the impact of intimacy and sensuality in female dressing. “Womenswear today consists of everything from extreme nudity to demure precision, being inspired by this kind of freedom”, says Paula. She has created a collection showcasing her own vision of what empowered sensual dressing can be today. A body-hugging sensual collection evolves showcasing her impressive signature cutting methods, which transforms evening dresses into comfortable but powerful silhouettes.

The collection is made up of luxurious fabrics, with dramatic shapes that pushes the boundaries of evening wear with a distinctive female impression. Wrapped turtleneck sequined gowns and short dresses in sumptuous velvet printed tulle, are mixed with voluminous wool trousers and tunics. The collection is made up of visually strong textiles and details, such as; shiny velvets with glossy metallics, whereas soft wools and heavy sequins intensify the sensual notions. The bold colour palette of reds and silvers contrast with blush blues and feminine Bordeaux, which creates a celebration of female sensuality and confidence.

Tell us about your design style.

To support and illustrate female Identity is the idea behind my designs. In fashion you sometimes get feeling that the superficial vision of a girl and her clothes on the runway garners more attention than the real woman who actually wear the product. Every season, I try to define a method to reverse that and remind people about the actual purpose of fashion. The woman should be in the foreground not the clothes. It´s all about her body, her movement and her personal beauty.

How has your work evolved since you began your own label?

Connecting to buyers and customers has extremely influenced me as a designer. It’s been a challenge but also a huge inspiration for me to merge the different cultural preferences and climates of different countries.

What kind of person wears your designs?

Strong women of any age! Women who want to dress in powerful, unique yet feminine and sensual pieces.

What is your favourite piece you’ve ever created- and what made it so special?

It is not so much just one piece, but more my unique cutting method which I developed already during my MA. When I started my research, I had this idea of a wet body stepping into

KNORR HAS A GROWING REPUTATION AS ONE OF LONDON’S

MOST EXCITING AND TALENTED DESIGNERS.

a sheet of fabric and how the fabric would cling to the body and drape across. I created a method to freeze this moment into a garment, by combining a stretchy back piece with a silky front. This method allows me to create beautifully draped garments with comfortable fit. The concept of renewing Evening-Wear is where it started.

What does the near future hold for you?

My team and I worked hard to translate the powerful and dramatic mood that made my AW18 collection so successful, that is fresh and vibrant. There will be a lot of off-whites and soft tones mixed with transparent shine.

PHOTO CREDITS: Photography- Daniel Fraser Production- Blonstein Casting- Linden & Staub Styling- Lija Hrönn Makeup- Martina Lattanzi for Weleda Hair- Bea Watson for Aveda Jewellery- Räthel & Wolf Shoes- TOPSHOP