Those that think my clothes are androgynous also still believe that women should look like Barbie dolls. That's precisely the problem, the deep-rooted assumptions about what is feminine.
Ann DemeulemeesterFashion has a reason to be, because in fashion you can find new kinds of expression about human beings. It's my way to communicate.
Ann DemeulemeesterFor me black is not dark, it's poetic. I don't think of gothic I think of classic - it's a big difference.
Ann DemeulemeesterGood fashion for me is like rock ‘n’ roll – there’s always a little rebellion in it.
Ann DemeulemeesterI'm very aware of the influence I've had, and I'm very pleased with that, because it proves that my work was necessary, that people liked it, and that it was right for its time which is a big compliment. But of course, this means I now have to move on. If more people are doing what I'm doing, I have to evolve. I'm pushed toward a new direction, and I have to let myself be tempted, find out where I can go.
Ann DemeulemeesterMy work is nice, natural, it's never "been there done that," my work remains very interesting without losing my soul - because it's really me, and I am always honest with myself. I don't care what's in or out, I just listen to myself. And it's very nice to able to work like that. At the beginning people might have wondered what I was doing, but now they know my line, my evolution, I'm respected for that and that's a wonderful feeling.
Ann DemeulemeesterI want to put a soul in a garment. I don't want my clothes to be perfect, because human beings are not perfect.
Ann DemeulemeesterI never leave anything behind. It's like a history, a chain, a line of life, you just have to move and make new steps, and keep it evolving - but my soul is my soul.
Ann DemeulemeesterBlack is not sad. Bright colours are what depress me. They're so... empty. Black is poetic. How do you imagine a poet? In a bright yellow jacket? Probably not.
Ann DemeulemeesterMusic is very inspiring to me because "true" music releases a true energy that is just inspiring. It's like when you see a beautiful painting or a wonderful film. You just receive this creative energy, and all of a sudden you want to create too.
Ann DemeulemeesterI want to put a soul in a garment. I don't want my clothes to be perfect, because human beings are not perfect. You can meet somebody in one of my jackets and it can all look a bit wrong, but also human and beautiful. Cutting nonchalance into a garment is difficult, because you can't just make an oversized or an asymmetric garment - it will look ugly. Making it look natural is delicate work. If it's too obvious, then it looks fake. Balancing the garment is a painstaking task, because you have to keep in mind how the clothes move.
Ann DemeulemeesterFashion has a right to exist, because it permits the people to define themselves over and over again.
Ann DemeulemeesterI don't like to generalize; I don't talk about the woman, because the woman doesn't exist. We're just lucky that we are able to choose. Those who feel like I do, who feel close to me find my product and find my soul. Each designer has a role to fulfill and you can never disappoint your audience, because it's for them that you're working. Naturally you always evolve, but my collection is about soul, about power.
Ann Demeulemeester