Interview with Les Hommes

You both graduated from the Royal Academy of Fine Arts of Antwerp. What were your experiences from there? Is it a military fashion camp as people say it is?

I must admit it is a tough school, but to call it a military camp is far exaggerated. In fact they don't control at all. The system is that they give you a ton of work to do and one has to assume responsibility for it. When it needs to be finished, it needs to be finished, otherwise you can go, it's very simple. It's all about being responsible for oneself.

How does a fashion school shape your aesthetics? Is it supposed to do so?

In fact the school teaches you how to look at things in a different way. The first lesson is seeing things in their best or worst way. It can be art or just life itself. When you know how to look then you can start developing your own aesthetics.

How did you two meet? And what was the first thing that you thought about each other?

We met at the Academy when we started. We became friends very soon, and after one year we became life-partners, which we still are.

Are two better than one when it comes to fashion? If yes, why?

We believe yes, with two it is stronger than alone. It gives a platform for discussion on everything. The collection becomes really a mix of two personalities and that is quite unique. If we would design each separately a collection, it would look different. Now it becomes something completely new, equally from Tom and Bart.

Are there any duos you admire in life (not just in fashion)?

Bonnie and Clyde [laughs].

You describe your collections as "Modern Nostalgic". Those are two somewhat contradictory words, aren't they? How could one be modern by constantly admiring the past?

It is all about exploring history and review it in a contemporary way. We have a thing with the past, long forgotten eras were people lived in different ways and had different habits. This is our nostalgic feeling about these times were class and luxury were lived in ways unimaginable today. Nevertheless we are modernists in our cuts and looks, the image we bring forward is a very contemporary and wearable one.

Who is your ideal man or woman?

We believe that Johnny Depp is an ideal man to represent the collection. He is a classy man with a bit boyish, rascal attitude and look.

Do you design your collections with a person in mind or are you influenced by music, current trends, world affairs.

Everything can be an inspiration, it can be a book or a movie, an old picture you found or even an old fabric with a print and a specific colour. Fashion is a state of mind of a creative person so it's really difficult to try and tell wear he got the inspiration from.

Would you ever use fashion to make a politic statement? Why?

We think it is not our call to make political statements, we are in the business of beauty and aesthetics. However it is certainly a possibility and some designers make it their trademark to do so. Fashion is one of the only businesses where you can escape from the daily CNN negative culture.

How do you view the endless give and take between designers and fashion conglomerates? Is it a way of an artist to get more funds and be able express him/her self in a better way or do you get stuck with a boss over your head in the end?

It is as always a choice, we choose to be 100% independent, in this way we keep the freedom to make our own decisions. It is not easy, and you are responsible for everything, but it also feels good. I would have a problem now to get a boss over my head telling me what to do, we think so freely at this moment. But you never now what the future brings.

Would you decide to design a diffusion line, get into jeanswear and accessories?

Of course, but first the plan is to establish the two main lines in a firm way and in two years expand our collection into a second line in order to make it more commercial and sell-able.

Please describe your fashion concept with maximum ten words.

"Modern nostalgics."

You are known to have a distinctive direction in the way you present your collections. How important is the presentation and the atmosphere of a show to you? Would you say that it might distract the audience from the clothes?

I think that presenting the collection in this way, it doesn't distract the audience from viewing the collection. On the contrary it crates an added value. The set is only visually important the first two minutes and then through light the focus is 100% on the model. At that point the set is just a background for the mood.

Milan, Paris, London or New York for fashion? Why do you present your clothes in Milan, a city that is considered the most commercial, fashion-wise? Or is this not true?

Indeed it is true, for the man we choose rigorously for Milan because it is more commercial. The collection is more seen and noticed by a variety of people. People who come to Milan come to buy, the ones who go to Paris go to see. For the ladies it is different, we will launch our first show next AW08 in Paris.

What is the idea behind Les Hommes - Femme?

Les Hommes - Femme was the logical thing to do, it is our vision on how women need to be dressed. It is a beautiful sophisticated woman who loves beauty. We want to establish a true first luxury line for woman with our typical LES HOMMES signature.

What are your plans for the future?

As I stated before we need to start preparing the next show for men's and also the new project in Paris! So, a lot of work for us!