A cheerful and very relaxed Michael Michalsky gave J'N'C an interview on 08 July, a few hours before his fashion show at Berlin's Tempodrom venue.
The creative headline of your fashion show today is 'Tolerance'. With the words 'Multiculturalism has NOT failed' you are contradicting the German chancellor Angela Merkel (who last year said that attempts to build a multicultural society in Germany have "utterly failed.") How do you justify that?
“Germany’s attempts to create a multicultural society have not failed. I can back this up by the experiences that I have on a daily basis and the life that I lead.
In my circle of friends there are a lot of people who have different ethnic backgrounds or practice other religions or who were brought up with religions other than Christianity, which I’m familiar with. Or who have a different sexual orientation than I do. And they all enrich my life. And within this group of people there are no disputes as a result of the many differences.
There are certainly social problems in many ethnic groups, but they exist in other ethnic groups too. And social problems have more to do with education than with where somebody is born or which God they pray to or whether they prefer men or women or both, whether they’re young or old, or disabled.
And of course I’m trying to show this in my casting and my collection. Of course the collection is still very much Michalsky, and wearable and very modern and edgy. I think I’ve turned it up three notches, because I wanted it all to be a lot sharper. I’m curious to hear what people think."
You were the first designer to rent the Tempodrom venue as a permanent location. Are you going to settle here?
“No, I came to Berlin five years ago and this is now my tenth show. At the beginning I was searching for a new location every season, but meanwhile it’s taken on a certain size, i.e. we need a certain number of seats. I’ve already been pretty much everywhere and where I haven’t been, others have.
I have always wanted to present my fashion differently than in a classic catwalk show because I’m not a couture designer. For me fashion is entertainment and popular culture, like music or film. And the best thing about this location that you can really do a lot with it and it’s very accessible."
Keywords: fashion and music. In a Spex interview you once said: "If you haven't got a clue about music, you don't have a clue about fashion either". Why did you choose the British newcomer band Mirrors for your show?
“Because I think they’re a really great band. I listen to music all day long and I’m often spot on with my recommendations that no one else has heard of. Music really inspires and drives me. For example it’s always very important to me which music is played at my fashion shows and I work closely alongside the DJs.
I think Mirrors are very interesting because they are a young band, four guys aged between 20 and 25, who look a little bit like a young Kraftwerk. They make electronic music, just like bands used to. Bands like OMD, a little like Duran Duran but different and new. I think that a lot of people will really like them!”
Thank you very much for talking to us!
Here are some impressions of Michael Michalsky's StyleNite on 08 July in Berlin's Tempodrom
65-year old model icon Eveline Hall
Model Mario Galla who has a leg prothesis
Andreij Winberg
The first "Lascana by Michalsky" beachwear collection
