Is the traditional way of becoming a designer still contemporary? What type of background is required for designers to develop their design language? What might the approach look like in the future?

Due to globalisation and digitalisation, especially the rise of social media, the traditional way of becoming a fashion designer has changed rapidly and opened new doors to more people interested in making their approach to fashion their faith. Considering the demands for a more sustainable future in the fashion industry, fashion designers face more challenges than ever, exploring new manufacturing methods. 

Former Editor in Chief of VOGUE Germany and Chairwoman of the Board of Fashion Council Germany, Christiane Arp got to the bottom of these questions with Tina Lutz, designer and founder of the fashion label Lutz Morris, as well as Anna Heinrichs, founder of the fashion label Horror Vacui.

Tina Lutz started her designer career in France where she studied Fashion Design. After graduating she started working at Issey Miyake, who sent her to his Tokyo studio, where she learned how to see fashion more as a state of art and design as a concept. She then moved to New York to work for Calvin Klein. After that she started her first label Lutz & Patmos, moved to Germany where Lutz Morris was born. Her handbag label. 

The power of Social Media gives you the opportunity to create a following and start a business through your phone. This path seems to be way easier than the “traditional way” but either way you have to gain knowledge and build a team with the best skill set you can find. The indispensable ingredient? Arp and Lutz agree: a strong vision! 

In the conversation with Anna Heinrichs, Christiane Arp digs deeper into the beginnings of Heinrichs label Horror Vacui. “It means the fear of emptiness, the fear of a white wall”, which I think is beautiful. To me it means filling life with color, joy and beauty” explains Heinrichs her labels name. 

With not only her collection being made in Ukraine, but her also being born there Heinrichs has a deep connection to the country and feels speechless about the current war happening. The best way to help? Donate either in things or financially. When things turned to the worst more than two weeks ago the designer questioned everything and even though about stoping. “That would mean to let the evil win and I could never do that. Also if those designs aren’t being made, a part of the Ukrainian culture would be lost and this would be cruel. I want it to live on forever. That’s why I decided to keep going.” 

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Words by Lea Egerer