Frankfurt-based Fashion Designer Albrecht Ollendiek Still Loves New York
Visiting New York for the initial time considering the fact that the pandemic took keep, the Frankfurt-based mostly designer Albrecht Ollendiek took in the artwork scene as considerably as he could.
Having been in company for 35 a long time, he explained, “To be trustworthy, my massive really like is New York simply because I began undertaking organization in New York when I was 20 [through a German-American fashion agency that was selling German fashion designers to the U.S.].”
Extra from WWD
Discovering artwork heightens his design and style sensibilities, whether that be Chinese bronzes from the Shang dynasty or the do the job of British modern day portrait artists. Right before flying again to Germany soon after a multiday remain, he traveled throughout the metropolis. “It was two terribly empty years — not that my everyday living is vacant devoid of New York,” Ollendiek explained. “I inhaled each and every little bit of New York. I went to the Neue Galerie and Cafe Sabarsky, which I adore. I went to galleries, Sotheby’s, Christie’s — all of the places that I love about New York.”
Pre-COVID-19, Ollendiek frequented New York every 6 to 8 weeks and he is now eager to get again to that schedule. With an atelier and boutique in Frankfurt, he specializes in technically sophisticated couture models, including ones in leather, suede and crocodile (from Hermès). The the greater part of Paris-made fabrics employed in his layouts are designed solely for his business. Most are also lined with designed-to-buy silk prints (very last wintertime ones impressed by Francois Boucher paintings had been created). Over the previous 12 months, for illustration, a printed leather was created and the similar print will be available in allover embroidered silk chiffon. The designer reported the conventional idea of seasonal collections is old-fashioned and his collections are finished when they are finished.
Courtesy Picture
A excursion to Peru led to this sort of art-centric prints as 1 influenced by the gilded side altars in the Cathedral of Lima. He also visited the centre for indigenous Peruvian textile artwork and purchased a great deal of hand-embroidered trimmings. “The gorgeous matter is with each and every meter of trimming you get a small tag with the identify of the Peruvian lady who it was woven by and the distant village in which it was designed,” he said. “You never just have this jacket created from some of the most lovely leather in France with this silk print with Boucher within, but you have these ribbons that ended up produced in distant villages in Peru by Peruvian craftspeople. This is what I really like — to convey distinct forms of cultures collectively and producing a little something new out of it.”
Happy that customers have confidence in him, Ollendiek reported most of his consumers are in “very exposed social conditions, wherever they are being appeared at, judged and want clothing that don’t ridicule them. They will need clothes that give them strength and self-confidence. Additionally, they want to talk that trend-smart they are in the front row of the chase. I don’t like the phrase ‘trend’ very substantially. I’m not considerably of a development human being. I’m far more about fashion, taste and independence.”
The self-taught designer explained he continue to knows exactly how everything is developed and made, like designs. With everything staying bespoke, clients expect extremely significantly and they pay out quite significantly, he stated. The main retail price assortment is $1,500 to $10,000, with alligator and other treasured leathers heading up to $50,000.
At the end of next month, Ollendiek will participate in Frankfurt Vogue Week as the only couture designer. A trunk clearly show is getting prepared for this fall in New York. “Lots of function — we’re drowning in do the job. We’re drowning in orders,” he mentioned. “We do every little thing — the purses, leather, suede, silk and evening gowns in our very own workshop. I am particularly picky when it will come to craftsmanship. I’m preventing with my assistants about each millimeter or best stitching. We examine and battle over the thickness of a thread.”
Doing the job with decide on U.S. suppliers on a few exclusive signature models appeals to him. “I want to make extra pieces of need than have 50 of my skirts hanging there in all colors and all measurements,” Ollendiek explained.
Aside from a handful of brief business enterprise outings, the designer options to go to Angkor Wat for 10 days — everything for a longer time would make him miss out on his function and his pet. Referring to his multidimensional technique, he explained that functioning on the amount he does is like hoping to by no means sit on just one chair. “It’s a great deal additional thrilling to sit involving the chairs, which is a great deal a lot more loony it’s possible. But it is considerably a lot more exciting,” he reported.
Indication up for WWD’s Publication. For the most up-to-date news, follow us on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.