Interview with Designer Hans Christian Madsen

Danish native Hans Christian Madsen graduated with an MA in Knitwear from the Royal College of Art in 2007, recognized for his well-crafted, conceptual and approachable pieces. Madsen's design process connects and explores the past and the present Nordic design and craftsmanship heritage while fusing functional and comfortable fashion with personal expression. The contrast between highly protective and sporty outerwear pieces in nylon and other stiff fabrics, and baggy hand-knits and nonchalant, worn shirts matched with comfortable pants, all evoke a casual image of a traditional Scandinavian style. We caught up with Hans Christian Madsen to chat about his brilliant Spring 2009 Collection and life since graduation.

What can you tell me about your background/What have you been doing since
graduation?

HM : I graduated with an MA in Knitwear from the Royal College of Art in 2007
recognized for his well-crafted, conceptual, and approachable pieces. My
design process connects and explores the past and the present Nordic
design and craftsmanship heritage while fusing functional and comfortable
fashion with personal expression. Since graduating, have I been working
with Diesel, and won the world's most prestigious fur competition, The
Golden Fur Pin in 2007. I have for the past two seasons been showing my
collections at “MAN” during London Fashion Week.

What inspired you to start your own line?

HM : I was proud that my graduate collection was so well received by the press
and was appreciated –that was the first inspiration to start my own brand.

What made you want to work in Fashion? What are your First major fashion
memories?

HM : My first pair of Levi’s 501. Retrospectively, it was the first time I
realized that branding involves strong heritage and storytelling.

How do you want your fashion to influence the world?

HM : I want to make clothes for everyday use never compromising garments or
design quality. Modest affluence for the man who appreciate fashion that
liberates and supports his own personality.

What city would you like to show your collection in?

HM : I do like the fashion scene in London, and it has been a great pleasure to
be able to show my last two collections during London Fashion Week.

How does your personality change when you are creating a collection?

HM : No special change when I am in the process of creating a new collection.

Do you think of yourself as an artist?

HM : No, I am a designer.

How do you describe your style?

HM : Nordic folklore reinvented

What type of media do you look at for inspiration?

HM : I am inspired by clothes and what it can do to people, especially how
people express themselves through clothing. A key element in my work is
the study of the relationship between clothing and the wearer.

What has been the most surprising or most predictable reaction to your
Design?

HM : The most surprising but also predictable reaction to my design is the
wide-ranging colour story of grey and black.

Who would you love to dress that you haven't already?

HM : I have no favorite customer, I would like my work to let the person who
wears it be whatever he is.

Looking back at your career so far is there anything you might change?

HM : No, I am in a position where I am able to explore my own design identity
and continue the development of the Hans Madsen brand.

What career advice would you offer someone trying to break into the biz?

HM : Go for it!

What was the inspiration for the Spring 2009 Collection?

HM : The S/S 09 collection is a tribute to meditative style military clothing
and the Fair Isle while taking a strong nod to the Scandinavian knitting
tradition. It plays with clever high-tech materials and digital print
still with strong emphasis on the importance of perfected design and
craftsmanship. Elegant tailored pieces and sportswear pay attention to
silhouettes and voluminous upper bodies to evoke refined graphic elements,
bringing to mind a sporty look that never becomes too casual.

How easy it to transition from Spring to Fall?

HM : Since fashion is very much about all the unspoken and intuitive things:
Image, expression, the ’je ne sais quoi’, I always seem to add that
important and special ’something’, that brings the collection to life.

Where can we buy Hans Madsen?

HM : B Store, London
Force of Nature, Copenhagen