COLLECTION 5 THE MALE - A FASHION SPECIAL!

some T-shirts for her boutique in the
Lower East Side and they got sold out
right away. So I thought I should keep
advancing. I did not go to school for fashion
and I felt I really had to learn how
to do this and learn every single step of
it, making patterns, sewing.
I was very serious about it. So I did the
prom dresses and that is when I started
to work with Karen O. She was a friend
for a while before she started the Yeah
Yeah Yeahs when I started the dresses.
She saw one of them and asked me to
do one for their show. I felt I had found
my collaborator at that moment. It just
kind of happened, the whole thing was a
big accident, I became a costume
designer because her band happened to
get popular. I try to continue following
the path I have started.
KALTBLUT: success often comes out of
an accident, if you want it too much it is
less true! Don’t you think?
ChRisTiAN JOy: Yes, I think so too.
The energy is different. I remember
reading articles about young people
who started costume design for their
friends because they thought it was a
great marketing idea. They interviewed
me for the same thing, I told them
it was a complete accident the way it
happened was just a lot of fun, we were
having a good time. I did go through
that period where I wanted to be an
artist and was trying to create. Then I
realised that if I don’t worry about having
the perfect thing but just doing it, I
am going to create with more
energy. It just happened to work.
KALTBLUT: if you could do a piece of
clothing for David Bowie what would you
do?
ChRisTiAN JOy: I have heard his last
album. I think he might be over
everyone. I keep reading about how he
did not show up to his own exhibition in
London. I guess I would give him a nice
pillow, something to make him relax.
He probably just wants to be alone so I
might give him a radar too.
KALTBLUT: he is a cross-border artist
and a pure visionary regarding his
collaborations?
ChRisTiAN JOy: I think he is a very
good curator. I think it is one of the
great things about David Bowie. He is
great at picking and choosing the best.
When you look at him on stage on the
Saturday night live with Klaus Nomi,
clearly to me Klaus Nomi is a genius
but David Bowie is more of a natural
creative. When I think of it, David
Bowie was clever enough to bring Klaus
Nomi. The guy is amazing! You want
to be friends with a guy like that who
brings up all his amazing friends.
350
„
I love
Japanese
culture
and their sort of
costume, there
is a simplicity
in it, in the
way it is
created.
Specifically rock stars, it is what makes
them so special, their ability to pick the
right person to work with. I think it is
great when artists refuse to stay put
into what people are expecting them to
do.
KALTBLUT: i guess this is the definition
of independency!
ChRisTiAN JOy: It is really tough.
KALTBLUT: is your studio a silent place
or do you play some music?
ChRisTiAN JOy: I do, my husband has
a band called Bubbles, he has a
fantastic voice and also I love 80’s music
(guilty laugh). Sometimes I listen to
Grimes… Oh! and I love Robyn!
KALTBLUT: What do you think about
Robyn´s outfit?
ChRisTiAN JOy: I think she is so cute!
She is funny, she is kind of butch and it
makes it so awesome, she is doing her
thing. Oh!!! and I love The Knife, and
Fever Ray! Oh man! They are amazing!
My husband got the new records, they
are so good. They keep pushing forward,
their idea is specific as to who they are.
They seem to be held down by nothing.
Some artists you feel they have to follow
the rules, it sucks. So I really love The
Knife, they are unique.