Hi!
My name is Marie-Christine Statz; I am 25 years old and from Germany. Four years ago I was studying in Boon, Germany and was almost done with my BFA in Economics when I decided to continue studying after that. Therefore I visited a friend in New York. I was in the city before but this time it was so much more interesting, exciting, diverse, and almost magical that i totally fell in love with New York. I wanted to study something more creative and when i found Parsons School of Design it was perfect. So it was not hard for me to pack my bags and move.
My Parents are both in the Fashion Industry and I remember when I was about seven or eight I wanted to help my mom with her job. She was working for a knit designer at that time. She told me I could start to draw sweaters and jackets. I took my "new job" very serious and I was convinced that the things i was drawing were ending up being in the collection. That was the time when I decided that I want to become a fashion designer!-))
Now I am a senior at Parsons working on my thesis collection, which will be 6-7 looks. We all started last September to drape, cut and sew in muslin, a cotton based fabric to make samples. In December all looks were supposed to be done in muslin and perfectly fitted on models, who were coming to class every other week. Then we had a winter break and now we are all back at school. We have until the 11th of April to cut and sew each look in real fabric, which is not a lot of time considering that we still have other classes. Last week our first look was due for the look-book shoot and that was very exciting for me. To see my garment on a model being photographed made it so much more real and it was a great motivation to start the this busy semester.
In general architecture often plays an important roll in my designs but I am also inspired by things and events around me. Therefore New York is a very helpful place to be. For my senior collection I was looking at buildings and drawing by the architect Zaha Hadid, because I found her techniques and materials interesting and challenging. My designs are very graphic and minimal. I am working with straight lines and clean shapes. To say it in Mies van der Rohe's words "Less is more"!
For this collection I am focusing on the texture and transparency of my fabrics to create the illusion of depth and three-dimensionality in every look. I am therefore using different fabrics, which vary from thick and opaque to thin and transparent. Through sequined fabrics, gazar, novelty fabrics and thick knits, I am creating different textures. This collection is made out of luxurious materials such as double face cashmere, flannel, wool/silk, leather, double face satin, silk, organza, gazar and chiffon. My color story is comprised of black, different shades of gray, silver and plum. The overall silhouette is not body tied but narrow and my designs are sophisticated and feminine.
For me a piece of clothing says a lot about a person. It reflects the person's style, character, and the way this person likes to live. I want to design garments that are wearable, comfortable, and make a woman's silhouette beautiful. My woman/customer, regardless of her age or nationality, is self-confident and stylish. She knows she is beautiful and loves clothes that are feminine with a discrete elegance. She wants to be reserved sexy. For her clothing is a way to express her self like buying a house, a car, furniture or art. She likes to see fashion as the new "Zeitgeist". The quality and the craftsmanship of the garment she is buying is very important to her as well as the fact that it is timeless and can still be worn the next season.
