It is a period of reflection that relates to aesthetics, taking place before considering the restraints of production. Intw Paolina Russo

When I was growing up, I always had really big feet. I could never wear the same shoes as the kids in my class. I always felt really embarrassed about it. However, my mom told me that I was lucky: I could wear shoes that other people my age couldn’t wear. I would look special. From then on, I stopped wanting to look like other people and I started wanting to define my own look. I used to shop in Thrift Stores instead of malls, looking for clothes you couldn’t find anywhere else. That began my relationship with clothing.

I did not consider fashion as a career-path until I moved to London and found out about Central Saint Martins fashion program. I used to draw and work with my hands a lot. One day, one of my tutors encouraged me to apply for the BA Fashion Knit program. There, I started my journey as a fashion designer. During this process, Thierry Mugler, Nicolas Ghesquiere, and Jun Takahashi have been some of my biggest influences. The philosophy of my brand can be synthesized in one sentence: “Now you see me”.

One of the key pieces from my current collection is a pair of boots. I made them in collaboration with Marko Bakovic, for a project supported by Adidas London. Both the digital realm and technology influence my creative process. It is fun for my to see my work exist in a digitally rendered context. I grew up watching a lot of anime, and playing video games. It is important for me to mix my personal interests when presenting my clothing: it gives others the opportunity to see the world my work comes from.