Caterina Ciuffoletti - A talented graduate from the Japanese fashion school Bunka and the first designer to join MUUSE this week. Her collection, GETOUTOFYOURSKIN, that she’ll be launching with us today she says is an: answer, order and a message of high hope.
Hi Caterina, welcome to MUUSE! Can you tell us a little about your background – Was there an ‘aha’ moment when you knew you would go into fashion?
I don’t really remember the time when I saw “the light”; I know that, as far as I remember, I’ve always had an artistic vibe of feeling the world, and a constant need to shape it into matter. Growing up, after my classical education, it naturally made sense for me to vehicle my usual urge of artistic creation and social communication into what I consider the most interesting, dynamic and complete media: fashion.
In my most romantic brainstorming moments though I like to think that the instinct for fashion has always been in my DNA, after all some of my ancestors were tailors.
Can you talk about the concept for this collection? – What inspired it?
“GETOUTOFYOURSKIN” is an answer, an order, a message of high hope and an urge that has been screaming somewhere in my head for a while. The collection naturally developed by pulling out what I felt about me, as a “generation y” representative and my role in this society. “GETOUTOFYOURSKIN” explores the bond between what Nietzsche calls the “Dionysian spirit”, the root of the human being and the “Apollonian spirit”, the ideal of man living in a society. I visualized the very elementary mechanic and cause of the human being, into the anatomy of the man itself and the heavy images of medieval Christian iconography as its antithesis. I molded and casted these features into the figure of an iconic human being who is dressed up in his human decay, wearing the skull of the trinity, like the ancient Greek warrior that wore his defeated enemies’ arms and standards as sign of value.
What is your favourite piece in the collection? How would you style it?
I’d say the anatomic cutout organza dress, and I would style it with a bold skeleton dead trinity helmet, of course.
Who do you imagine is the woman who wears your clothing?
A woman that is able to turn into a strong and iconic human being
What places, things, people inspire you?
I tend to abstract my muse into stories, feelings, and concepts to be explored. Inspiration comes from memory and cultural baggage; those are the widest places possible for each one of us. Also, my interlocutors often inspire me, whether they’re my friends or strangers. Even phrases from commercials on the bus or the music on my playlist get the inspiration going. I constantly follow the line of contemporary art as much as possible; it is a very precious source of dialogue and inspiration.
What’s your favourite material to work with?
I can’t think about a material I wouldn’t like to work with, I love working with different textures.
What did you learn during your time at fashion school?
I learned to elaborate meticulously, to create a cohesive and coherent story from an apeiron, to communicate and translate it into a finished object. Oh, and many useful tricks on the sewing machine.
If you could go back in time and experience any fashion moment, what would it be?
I would stay right here right now, I see this time as dynamic and full of opportunities; I definitely want to be part of it.
If you could get any model/ anyone to wear your clothes, who would it be – who is your muse and why?
I can imagine getting out from my house in the morning and see people on the street wearing my clothes.
Where do you see yourself in five years’ time?
Working on my designs, hopefully collaborating with interesting people and having great projects.
What’s next for you?
Gaining some experience in this field, I still have plenty to learn
If you weren’t a fashion designer, what would you be?
Sometimes I think about this question, I like to come up with silly answers usually, but due to my love for anatomy and thread I would say surgeon – A conceptual anatomy surgeon.
What made you decide to be part of MUUSE?
I find the concept behind this platform very smart and forward-looking; a right answer to the contemporary fashion system – I am pleased to be part of it.
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