INTERVIEW: Meet the designer

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WHO: Naja Munthe

WHAT: Creative director/Founder MUNTHE

LOCATED: Copenhagen

Shes a bohemian icon, and has a policy not to use real fur. This season she makes a statement with one of a kind fake fur jackets made by fabrics from around the world. Envelope met Creative Director of MUNTHE, Naja Munthe at her creative studio in Copenhagen,

COPENHAGEN Envelope by Celine Aagaard

What inspired you to create the unique one of a kind Munthe jacket of the season? I have always been fascinated by fur as I think that it is an extremely beautiful material, and it can add something to clothing that plain fabric can not. With this jacket, I strived to provide customers with a more unique experience of fake fur, where the design is different and more personal.

 You have done a collaboration with some influencers and strong women this season how did you come up with this idea? There are so many talented women influencers and bloggers, who are only used to work with the final product. They are often very creative and have a really good understanding of form, function and color. I would like to give these influencers the opportunity to express their talents, by designing their own unique jacket in different fake furs that I put at their disposal.

Many danish designers use real fur - you stay away from that, when did you decided to do only fake fur, and why is it so important for you ? In MUNTHE we have a company policy that we don’t use real fur. I can accept using fur from animals that humans eat, such as lamb, but I can’t support using fox, mink etc. It is of course very individual how one feels about that issue, and I´m not judging anybody, but to me it feels natural to think about the animals in conditions and how to treat them.

In what way does Copenhagen inspire you? Copenhagen is a super inspiring city that is growing rapidly all the time. When I bike through the city on my way to work, I keep discovering new small coffee places, organic restaurants and pop up shops with new designers. And above that, Copenhagen is a really good mix of urban life and local community

What inspires you the most? I can be inspired by everything! A poster in an airport, an old jacket, a coffee stained tablecloth or one of my kids’ t-shirts. Once you are creative, all impressions in fact can be used as inspiration.

How does your design reflect your personal style? It is probably very obvious that my own style is consistent in the way I design - it is probably very few who are able to separate the two things, when you are so closely associated with your brand as I am. But on the other hand, I also need to do designs that I wouldn’t necessarily wear, but I know will fit some of my customers (for example a short mini skirt) I know it sounds like a cliché, but style is a very personal thing. If you have enough money, you can always walk into an expensive multi-brand store and tear down from the shelves, but this does not give you style.

What is style to you?Style is when your personality is clearly shining through, and you dare to take some unique and personal choices.

3 keypieces for fall?  In my own AW16 collection I have a lot of blue, its just like it has replaced black. In addition, I use print in many variations, and it is great to see that fashion has again become less minimalistic. It must surely be my signature sweater that is both very casual and at the same time really sparkling. Definitely the gauzy dress with a subtle print and small silver markings, and finally the classic mens vest with heavy embroidery - vests has been away from the fashion scene in many years, but now they’re on their way back.