Crimson Kaie

INTERVIEW | Anna Popovich

Boyan - Using CrimsonKaie, I like to experiment with different perceptions of art. It’s no great leap to see fashion and clothing a an art form. As one of the closest, most personal things to us I find the drive and influence of the designers very interesting. So it’s a great pleasure to introduce Anna and her fantastic work. Be sure to see her full collection from the link below.

Describe your work & style?
The style of my work is heavily influenced by the couture houses which flourished around the turn of the 19th century-Lanvin, Worth and Poiret in particular. The things that inspire my designs vary from collection to collection but I always try to put their focus on luxury, detail and drama at the heart of the way I approach design.
My current collection began with an article in Fashion Theory called ‘Showing and Hiding’ which led me to experiment with drawing attention to particular areas of the body, not by revealing them but by sculpting over them with fabric and playing with proportions. My research led me to consider the different types of skin we create for ourselves and the ways in which we have distorted our body shapes through the ages.You will find nods to corsetry, exaggerated silhouettes (based on the Hollywood ideals of the 1940s and 50s, and Tudor costume) interpretations of human muscle structure and bias cutting to softly hint at the real body beneath.


Describe yourself
I have been fascinated by dissecting, altering and making clothes for as long as I can remember. It wasn’t until I was studying for my degree in Comparative Literature, however, that it occurred to me to turn this passion into a career.
While at university I joined the drama society and began to design and make costumes for their productions. In 2008 I began an internship with Roksanda Ilincic and I have since been a convert to fashion.

Where is the ‘art’ in your work? (excellently worded question, I know)

I have often been asked the question ‘is fashion art?’ Fashion is, quite simply, fashion. This does not make it any greater or lesser than art. Fashion fascinates me because it touches all aspects of our lives and is part of what makes us human. Not just the desire to protect our bodies from the elements but the desire to adorn our bodies-even the most primitive of societies have decorated their bodies in one way or another. However much a person claims not to follow or care about fashion they are interacting with it every day.

 

What has been your favourite moment doing what you do so far?

Taking my collection to my friends shop in Notting Hill to take some pictures for her blog. As well as positive comments from her customers, a photographer came in and asked to borrow some pieces for a shoot he was doing.

And your worst?
I’ve not had any huge disasters yet…

 

What’s your ambition?

I’m selling my collection made to order online at the moment but I’d love to start selling my designs ready-to-wear through established boutiques and department stores. If I could see one of my collections hanging on a rail in Liberty I’d really feel like I’d made it.


See her full collection here: Anna Popovich