| Cult London-based, Dutch-born designer Maaike Mekking infuses her innovative womenswear with effortless, wearable cool – an aesthetic that’s surely the by-product of growing up in a country where a famous saying goes, "Act normal and you're crazy enough". This season Mekking impressed critics and fans alike with her neo-tribal AW10 collection, titled ‘Witch-Craft-Wo-Man-Ship’, inspired by “the strength of women and the art and heritage of craftsmanship”. The multi-talented designer, who learned the ropes working alongside such luminary designers as Alexander McQueen, Humanoid and Alberta Ferretti, got talking with Farfetch.com – and filled us in on getting inspired, being impulsive, and looking forward to going back to the drawing board for SS11. |
What inspired you to launch a fashion label?
Maaike Mekking: After completing my MA in womenswear at the RCA, I gained experience working with Alexander McQueen, Humanoid and Alberta Ferretti. It was only after this that I felt ready to start working on my own label; the freedom of being able to design according to your own vision is extremely alluring.
What is it that you love about fashion, and creating clothing?
Maaike Mekking: I've always been a very visual person, as a child I really enjoyed painting and drawing but I eventually grew bored of 2-dimensional art forms. Fashion design was a natural progression.
How do you come up with the concepts for your collection each season?
Maaike Mekking: I'm quite an impulsive person, which follows through to the way I'm inspired. Something will grab my attention and start my imagination churning. There is a small time frame between seasons where you can be truly receptive and open to things around you, and during that time I make a point of immersing myself in art, film and literature. The pressure and stress leading up to fashion week tends to stifle creativity.
Where did you grow up and where are you based now? Did you dream of a career in fashion – how did you actually get your start?
Maaike Mekking: I grew up in the countryside in Holland, but I've been based in London since I graduated from the RCA. Growing up in Holland, fashion was something quite exotic. There is a Dutch saying, "Act normal and you're crazy enough", the Calvinistic culture I grew up in meant I never really considered fashion design as
| a career possibility. It wasn't until I was removed from my settings at art school that I really discovered fashion and it's function as a language, to communicate and translate an identity.
Is there anyone you would particularly like to dress or see wearing your designs?
Maaike Mekking: Any strong-spirited woman. To be honest, I get excited when I see anyone wearing my designs, especially seeing how they wear it and what they wear it with.
Can you tell me about your AW10 collection, which has been described as neo-tribal – what was it based on?
Maaike Mekking: My AW10 collection was titled ‘Witch-Craft-Wo-Man-Ship’, and was quite literally focused on the strength of women and the art and heritage of craftsmanship. Throughout my career I've been interested in investing in forgotten modes of design, this collection I utilised hand-drawn and stencilled prints. Aesthetically, this collection takes inspiration from the films Badlands and Christiane F.
What has been the highlight of your career so far?
Maaike Mekking: Every step up along the way has been a highlight. The most recent highlight was showing my collection at the tradeshow Rendez-vous in Paris after receiving great reviews for my AW10 collection.
What news or projects do you have to look forward to this year?
Maaike Mekking: We've got a project coming up called ‘Maaike Mekking Curates’, which I'm really excited about – and of course designing and showing my next collection for SS11.
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