WHO: Maikel Tawadros
WHAT: Creative Director
LOCATED: Copenhagen
INSTAGRAM: @maikeltawadrosclothing
Dark, sleek and romantic. When the city sleeps his creativity awakens.
Maikel Tawadros is known for his dark, avantgarde design. For his Spring Summer 2017 collection he is inspired of FEAR. - Fear is something we all know, says Maikel. Read the interview with Envelope here.
Envelope by Celine Aagaard
Tell us shortly the "Story" behind the Maikel Tawadros - and what inspired you to create youre own brand.
After I graduated from Copenhagen Academy of Fashion Design and worked for serval Danish Designers, I always felt that I should do something for myself - My own brand, my own vision, my own style. My vision was and still is to create something out of my love from black, something dark, sleek and romantic. My style and expression is love towards empowering women to be strong, independant and mysterious. For as long as I can remember I’ve always been attracted to the odd and avantgarde in art, life and style and therefore the making of "Maikel Tawadros” brand was essentiel and a way for me to express beauty from my point of view.
How did you get in the fashion industry?
I started working as an intern at Bruun Bazaar way back and afterwards I worked for a Danish brand called Annhagen in Paris, but it no longer exists and from there I applied for the Design School in Copenhagen and got in and it sort of took it’s way from there to where I am now.
When did your fascination for wearing black start? Good question - I have always loved black, my mom almost always wears black so it’s kind of color that’s been following me since childhood - But when I started working for Annhagen in 2007 my passion for the dark, mysterious and avantgarde really came through and have been stuck with me ever since. But I have to say that I also wear other colors other than black such as dark grey and dark green, but mostly it’s the black that overrules.
How did you dress as a kid? I don’t think my style back then was matured yet - But I’ve always known what I wanted to wear, always a specific style which just have been developing through my teenage years until it turned in to the love and passion for black.
What piece was the first you made? The first piece I’ve ever made at the Design School was a black hammered silk skirt with a black pima-cotton top embellished with steel hoops - Not something I would ever do again, but at that time it totally made sense for me.
Tell us the key words a head your ss2017 show in Copenhagen. This collection is the most personal collection I’ve ever made. I was drawn and inspired of feelings. More specific the feeling of fear. Fear is something we all know - The fear of loosing, the fear of dying or the fear of being sick. Instead of thinking of fear as something negative I wanted to reverse that feeling and making it something beautiful and powerfull. I created a collection with strong expressions. A daring, romantic and revealing collection that (again) empowers women. I’ve also created a tribe-inspired fine jewelry-collection with jewelry-designer Facon Facon that adds that "something" to the collection.
What materials will be key for spring summer 2017? I have been focusing a lot on textures this season a lot more than I usually do - I wanted the fabrics to speak more than ever. I’ve used a dark rose red crepe-linen that almost looks torned but yet elegant and beautiful. I’ve also used a black leopard jacquard that just add something animalistic to the collection, you won’t even know it’s leopard unless you are close to the fabric, but it looks so exclusive and really makes your eyes wonder. Besides that I also worked with black lamb leather, knitting with a drop-stitch effect, beautiful shiny silver silk satin & black sheer silk chiffon.
In what way does art inspires you? Art has that power of making you think og rethink of life and situations. Art inspires me in many aspects of life both professionally and personally. Art is like a pause from the daily life where you can dream and developpe your thoughts.
When are you at the most creative- daytime or nighttime? Nighttime - It’s like when the city sleeps your creativity awakens.
In what way has your background inspired you? I have a Danish and Egyptian background and I think both worlds has had a huge impact on me. I’ve experienced things many people won’t see in a lifetime. I travelled a lot through my childhood and my early teenage years and those travels have definitely formed me as a person and as an artist.
In what way does Copenhagen inspires you? Copenhagen is a wonderful city. I have lived here for 12 years and this city never let’s you down. We are rich in culture and our legacy is big. I love that Copenhagen is so small that you can get around the whole town within half an hour on bike, we have fantastic restaurants, museums, parks, shopping, nightlife and it’s sooo beautful here no matter season.
How does your design reflect your personal style? My design is so personal - It’s always a feeling of attraction that’s the starting point for every collection which developpes as you research the topic. All the pieces I’ve ever made is always made with the purpose for that specific collection. All my collections are personal - But you learn to express yourself more and more for every collection and for my SS17 entitled FEAR I’ve never been more personal and happy as I am right now.
Is there anyone in particular you would like to see wearing your design? Uhhh there is a lot of amazing women I would love to see in my design and lucky me a lot of Danish personalities have already been wearing a “Maikel Tawadros” pieces for special events, but if I could choose someone international I will have to go for Tilda Swinton due to her always amazing, personal and chic style.
What is style to you? Someone who owns their style and not the other way around.
3 keypieces for SS17? Oversized ruffle leather skirt / Blazer-top with dyed silver fox sleeve / Sleeveless blazer with silke chiffon train
COPENHAGEN TRAVEL TIPS
Where do you get your coffe in Copenhagen? Riccos or Atelier
Where do you eat out? Pluto, Geist, Pastis and Fiskebaren
Where would you recommend people to visit? Inner city around “Ved Stranden”, Louisiana, Frederiksstaden, Geist and Vesterbro
See the dark highlights from the aw16 runway here
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