Reconstruction Of The Obvious
Words Irina Romashevskaya
Interview Latoya P. Henry
A mastermind in the areas of mixed media illustration and collage, Eugenia Alejos creates evocative, groundbreaking imagery, as seen on the pages of various fashion and design magazines. And lately she’s been dabbling in clothing and accessories design.
Holograms, high-resolution prints, 3D technology – these are just some of the innovative techniques Eugenia Alejos has been using in her limited edition capsule collections. The intricate garments are finished with exclusive trims and details, hand dyed and tailored; metal and polyamide accessories are lined with soft suede, creating unusual textures and shapes, but without compromising comfort or wearability.
Alejos’ interest in fabric technology paved the way to her increased exploration and experimentation with different materials and techniques. She uses exotic and recycled leather to achieve startling textural results, plays with polyamide and neoprene to create unusual shapes, and reimagines traditional application of fabrics such as silk, cotton and viscose, to turn them into something out of the ordinary.
Blending her love for illustration with her insatiable drive for design, she channels her layered deconstructed compositions into garment and accessories design. In her “Proto3Dype” collection she uses an innovative 3D printing technique and incorporates it in the design of shoes, bags, eyewear and clothing. Her work is imaginative, conceptual and strikingly beautiful. Every piece of the collection is a unique statement, and it’s created with great care and pride.
In her illustration work, Alejos mixes pencil and watercolors with fabric, leather, and plastic, drawing, slashing and stitching her art pieces together. Similar technique is used in her “A dixit” collection, where she exercises an unconventional approach to menswear, attempting to tap into yet another area of design. Combining traditional sweater knits with unusual textures, bondage leather and deconstructed detailing, she searches for new aesthetic and creates groundwork for menswear of the future.
The secret to designer’s aesthetic, however, is the fact that she feels her work through and through. By deconstructing what’s on the surface, she reconstructs what was always beneath: the elements that create the imagery, separate concepts of design, necessary for the whole image to work. “Why not take the obvious ingredients of the design, bring them to the surface, mix them all up and recreate something entirely fresh?” She asks herself and crafts the extraordinary.
Who is the ideal female or male wearing EUGENIA LEJOS?
I think that this kind of person is someone that look the fashion from a different perspective.
Tell us about the process behind “PROTØ3DYPE”?
My daily routine is checking e-mails, updating social network sites, working on product requests. On a weekly basis I have to meet potential partners, clients, and collaborators. The monthly schedule includes attending or organizing events and sales. On a yearly basis I work with my production and I attend trade shows. Then start designing for next collection, photo shoots, branding movie clip, no-sleep, photoshop sessions, printing out line-sheets, web-design, catalogues, press-kits, preparing displays, packaging,...
I only make one collection a year and when I eventually do decide to start selling, it will be with a store I can see myself growing together with. For me, fashion is about quality, not quantity; and I it’s important to keep that intact in my work. I love slow fashion.
Is there a specific place or thing where you normally find inspiration for your designs?
I travel for work a lot and rarely for vacation. I am usually holed up inside even though I’m in great cities like Berlin, for fittings, or London, which I visit two times a year. So I wouldn’t say travel is a big inspiration for me, but that’s not to say that I don’t sometimes see something when I’m on the road and get moved by it.
After working on a collection of ideas, how are these designs brought to life?
Hours of pattern making, Photoshop, Illustrator, talking fabrics with distributors, meetings with the design team, prototype design, and this list can be endless. In fact this list always ends with a lot of stress before submitting the collection.
What does the future of fashion look like?
The future will be a world where art, design, fashion, science, technology and commerce were united. The future is very exciting because it´s becoming easier to travel and see true artists all over the world. I think the future will make us want to be everywhere, without really belonging to any site.
Any words of wisdom for aspiring creators following the design path?
Patience, hard work and be yourself.
Words Irina Romashevskaya
Interview Latoya P. Henry