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30/11/2011

Q&A WITH DOMINIQUE KRAL.

Q: When did you first realise that you wanted to be a designer?
A: Designing is something I've grown up doing. I think I first used a sewing machine about the age of 5, starting how I think a lot of people started, making clothes for dolls. My grandma used to work as a seamstress so I often watched her pattern cutting and sewing garments for customers. My other grandmother was, and is always, hand knitting so there has never been a shortage of hand knitted jumpers, socks or scarfs in my life. My mum is also an artist and was a knitwear designer in my early teens, so there has always been a creative environment around me. I think  designing is more of the way I was brought up, rather than a decision I made.
 
Q: Why knitwear?
A: Autumn and winter are my favourite seasons. I love the chill in the air that requires the layering of warm, thick, soft items of clothing, and knitwear is the ultimate cosy clothing for winter months. I love the textures and look of chunky knitwear, and the way it feels when you wear it. Having a knitwear designer for a mother and a jumper knitting nana probably also played a huge part in the influence of knitwear in my collection. 

Q: Which designers inspire you the most?
A: So many designers inspire me in so many different ways. Vivienne Westwood, Thierry Mugler, Mary Katrantzou, Meadham Kirchhoff, Zandra Rhodes, Alexander Mcqueen just to name a few.

Q: What was the concept behind this collection?
A: My A/W11 collection, Betelguese, was inspired by photos I took while camping in the new forest. They were of bugs, insects, beetles and bones I found in the forest in the summer. The structures of decaying corpses and the colours in the beetles and insects were the main inspiration.

Q: How do you feel it fits in/ contrasts with the other collections we're seeing in the shops at the moment?
A: I think the collection fits in really well with the trends at the moment. I've seen loads of chunky knits with similar neck shapes and cable I used in my collection, and I've even seen jewellery in Topshop (rings, broaches etc.) which are the same beetle I used in my prints.

Q: Tell us about the award that you won?
A: The award I won at Graduate Fashion Week was the Zandra Rhodes Textile Award. It was such an amazing feeling that out of all the amazing collections shown at GFW they picked mine. I never dreamed that I would win anything being up against so much competition from all the graduates there. Five months later and I still can't really believe it. I won the award for my use of colour, fabrics and textures put together in the collection. 

Q: The collection includes a number of very structured pieces, does that reflect your own style?
A: I think, possibly, my entire collection reflects my own style. I do wear a lot of slouchy, baggy pieces, usually knit, and I feel they do need to be paired with pieces that are more structured a lot of the time. It adds more texture, detail and contrast to an outfit.

Q: What are you hoping to achieve in the next 5 years?
A: I'm not entirely sure what. I'm just seeing where life takes me at the moment. I just hope for success. 

Q: What are you currently working on?
A: Recently I've been featured at Britain's Next Top Model Live, various editorial photo shoots, and showed as part of TellusFashion's launch show on November 21st. I'm also working on S/S12 pieces for BENGTFashion...along with whatever else comes my way.

Q: Who would you most like to see wearing your clothes?
A: I would love to see loads of people wearing my clothes. I think the pieces separately could be worn in different ways by so many people. I think my print leggings would look awesome on Jesse J, the print dress or print shirt and skirt would be beautiful on someone like Kiera Knightly or Emma Watson, and the leather trousers and jumper would be amazing on someone more edgy like Skin or Alice Dellal.

Q: What message do you think your clothes portray about the wearer?
A: That they are confident with an edgy style and attitude. They aren't afraid to wear pieces that are bold.

Visit www.dominiquekral.co.uk

Twitter: @dominiquekral

Conducted by Francesca Bassenger, photography by Sam Foot.

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