LURVE – FEBRUARY 2010 - INTERVIEW WITH MICHELE LAMY

FEBRUARY 2010

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TO WHICH EXTENT DO YOU FIND A COMPATIBILITY BETWEEN YOUR RATHER SHARP, CONTEMPORARY DESIGNS, AND THE POSH NEIGHBORHOODS WHERE THE BRAND IS PHYSICALLY SOLD AND CREATED?

IT'S OUR THEME: ALWAYS MIX THE OLD WITH THE NEW. IF WE COULD MINGLE WITH THE ANTIQUE EGYPTIANS WE WOULD. TIMES EVOLVE. THEY DON'T CHANGE. 

EVEN THOUGH RICK CREATED A NEW MOVEMENT IN FASHION, AS WELL IN WOMENSWEAR AS IN MENSWEAR, DO YOU SUPPORT ALL THOSE DESIGNERS NOWADAYS THAT CLEARLY COPY HIS WORK? 

DOESN'T THAT SAY THAT RICK IS RIGHT IN 'L'AIR DU TEMPS'? 

HOW CAN YOU EXPLAIN THAT THE BRAND IN ITSELF, WHILE STAYING INDEPENDENT, IS MUCH MORE FAMOUS THAN SOME OTHERS THOUGH OWNED BY INVESTORS? 

TALENT MAKES YOU FAMOUS WHATEVER THE BUSINESS DEAL YOU CHOOSE. BUT IF YOU STAY INDEPENDENT, YOU GIVE YOURSELF THE MEANS TO GROW AS YOU WANT. 

IF A TATTOO IS A MEANS OF EXPRESSING AND DEVOTING ONESELF, DO YOU FEEL THAT WEARING CLOTHES IS THE TANGIBLE CONTINUITY OF THIS AIM? 

IT'S ON THE SAME LEVEL. TATTOOS ON MY FINGERS, RINGS AROUND IT, FUR SOCKS, BLACK TANK TOP—SAME STORY. 

INSOFAR AS RICK OWEN'S DESIGNS ARE LIKE A SCULPTURE BECOMING ALIVE WHEN WORN, HAVE YOU EVER FELT THAT YOUR PURPOSE WAS MORE THAT OF AN ARTIST THAN OF A MERCANTILE BUSINESS? 

IT'S VERY REAL AND EXCITING. ALL CIVILIZATIONS DEVELOP ON THE MARKET PLACE. ONLY BAD WILL BE FEELING PRESSURE TO DO SOMETHING YOU DON'T WANT. ARTIST OR MERCHANT—ALL THE SAME. 

DO YOU KNOW THAT YOU ARE A STYLE ICON FOR LOTS OF PEOPLE? 

FASHION ICON? I DONT THINK SO. BEING ON THE WILD SIDE—HEARD IT SINCE SKIING WHEN 12 COVERED IN KNOTTED FOX SKINS. 

HAVE YOU EVER FELT A PRESSURE TO LOOK GOOD ALL THE TIME? 

WHEN I DONT FEEL GOOD, PUT MY GLOVES ON, GO BOXING WITH STAIV THE TRAINER. PUNCH AND PUNCH AND PUNCH IT OUT. LIFE IS FINE. 

DO YOU THINK THAT SOME DESIGNERS WORKING FOR BIG COUTURE HOUSES ARE THE REFLECTION OF A CERTAIN SENSE OF FRUSTRATION? 

THEY ARE JUST 'DEMODE.' WHAT DOES NOT TRANSLATE AS OUT OF FASHION/BUT NO MORE IN THE RIGHT TRACK IF WE TALK OLYMPICS. 

DO YOU STILL LOVE FASHION?