INTERVIEW WITH NIKOLINE LIV ANDERSEN

Could you please describe your studio?

Nikoline Liv Andersen (NLA): My studio is on the two highest floors of our house at Østerbro in Copenhagen. It is almost like a cave full of industrial sewing machines, ironing boards, a transfer machine, dummies, looms, all kinds of materials and tools. In the basement my husband has a carpentry. Here I can make everything. Clothing, shoes, dolls, gobelins and more. I love being able to produce everything from here.

Design, sustainability or business – how do you plan to prioritize your efforts?

NLA: We need to have sustainability as a top priority in everything we do. I also need to be aware of that in my entire work. Everything I do is solo pieces and I only produce what I find necessary. I strike to work as much as possible with left overs. Actually, I find it more inspiring than using new materials. It is also less expensive  I even use the left overs of thread from my sewing machines for embroideries.

Artistically I try to work without compromises. I want to show that fashion and art can go hand in hand. I want to erase the borders between those two worlds. I want to develop myself and my work all the time.  If I am told something is impossible, I will do all I can to make it possible. I really believe that I can manage if I am working hard. For me that is more important than building up a big commercial brand. But like with everything else I am open minded for new ideas and possibilities. As long as it does not affect the artistic look.

Do you have a guilty pleasure (snack, music, etc)?

NLA: Normally I do 100 pull ups a day while working. That is the best way to keep up the energy throughout the day. And to have a strong and healthy body despite a time-consuming work. But as I just mentioned I broke my hand some months ago and it needs to be better before I am allowed to exercise like that again.

What’s usually the starting point of your design process?

NLA: In the beginning of a new project, I am writing small poems. The poems are helping me to increase the final story of a project. They come to life as the same time as I am experimenting with textiles and techniques. This textile experimentation is evident to me and I always strike to find new ways of working with textiles.

Describe your collection this season in 5 words?

NLA: Eden…. Eve…. Modern…. Mother…. Humanity…