73 ETERNAL CREATIONSWhat does style mean to you?
Style is when you mix creativi-
ty with a bit of functionalism. It has
nothing to do with money. Style is
when you style an old dress in a new
way instead of throwing out and
buying new stuff.How do you work?
I am fascinated and inspired by
nature. I love experimenting with
materials and fabrics and I like to try
to give them new aesthetic qualities.
I am fascinated by transforming in-
dustrially-produced materials, such
as straws and nails, into something
organic. I like to twist the idea of
what is natural and what is artificial.
My projects are always extreme-
ly time-consuming. I spend a lot of
time researching ideas and exper-
imenting with materials. After the
experimental part of the process is
done, I draw and make patterns on
the dummy, and from that I make
the textiles. I don’t know why I al-
ways fall in love with complicated
and time-consuming techniques.But I really love sitting for hours
and hours working on things with
very delicate details. I have eternal
patience working with something I
believe in. I could never have a job
just to earn money.Your clothing designs are often
a part of a larger sculptural instal-
lation. What is the reason for this?
I have always loved telling sto-
ries with my work, which is why I
often mix clothes with dolls, music,
and poems. I also show my clothes
in some kind of scenery. I find man-
nequins and dolls very interesting
because they look like us but are not.Do you believe that the fash-
ion industry can influence society
more broadly?
Often in my projects I’m try-
ing to question things in life that
I don’t understand. Questioning
something is a way of trying to un-
derstand it.
Fashion is powerful because ev-
erybody wants to be fashionable.Fashion Nikoline Liv Andersen, a Danish fashion designer at
Fendi and clothes creator for Bjork, makes clothes that
aren’t to be worn, such as the black, red, and white
dress shown on these pages, which was painstakingly
constructed out of 45,000 straws. Andersen uses
mannequins, dolls, music, and poems to create her
three-dimensional fashion sculptures, and in the
process of creation, Andersen is forever questioning her
world. What makes meaning in life? And what is our
purpose here on Earth?Interview by
STAV DIMITROPOULOS
Interviewee
NIKOLINE LIV ANDERSEN
Photographs
NICKY DE SILVA73 ETERNAL CREATIONSWhatdoesstylemeanto you?
Styleis whenyoumix creativi-
tywitha bitoffunctionalism.It has
nothingto dowithmoney.Styleis
whenyoustyleanolddressina new
way instead of throwing out and
buyingnewstuff.Howdoyouwork?
I amfascinatedandinspiredby
nature. I love experimenting with
materialsandfabricsandI liketotry
togivethemnewaestheticqualities.
I amfascinatedbytransformingin-
dustrially-produced materials, such
asstrawsandnails,intosomething
organic. I liketo twist the ideaof
whatis naturalandwhatis artificial.
My projects are always extreme-
ly time-consuming. I spend a lot of
time researching ideas and exper-
imenting with materials. After the
experimental part of the process is
done, I draw and make patterns on
the dummy, and from that I make
the textiles. I don’t know why I al-
ways fall in love with complicated
and time-consuming techniques.But I really love sitting for hours
and hours working on things with
very delicate details. I have eternal
patience working with something I
believe in. I could never have a job
just to earn money.Your clothing designs are often
a part of a larger sculptural instal-
lation. What is the reason for this?
I have always loved telling sto-
ries with my work, which is why I
often mix clothes with dolls, music,
and poems. I also show my clothes
in some kind of scenery. I find man-
nequins and dolls very interesting
because they look like us but are not.Do you believe that the fash-
ion industry can influence society
more broadly?
Often in my projects I’m try-
ing to question things in life that
I don’t understand. Questioning
something is a way of trying to un-
derstand it.
Fashion is powerful because ev-
erybody wants to be fashionable.Fashion Nikoline Liv Andersen, a Danish fashion designer at
Fendi and clothes creator for Bjork, makes clothes that
aren’t to be worn, such as the black, red, and white
dress shown on these pages, which was painstakingly
constructed out of 45,000 straws. Andersen uses
mannequins, dolls, music, and poems to create her
three-dimensional fashion sculptures, and in the
process of creation, Andersen is forever questioning her
world. What makes meaning in life? And what is our
purpose here on Earth?Interview by
STAV DIMITROPOULOS
Interviewee
NIKOLINE LIV ANDERSEN
Photographs
NICKY DE SILVA