{"id":16401,"date":"2017-06-26T19:53:35","date_gmt":"2017-06-26T19:53:35","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.nonsolomodanews.it\/wordpress\/?p=16401"},"modified":"2017-06-26T19:58:46","modified_gmt":"2017-06-26T19:58:46","slug":"interview-with-shania-matthews-winner-of-polimoda-fashion-show-2017-best-collection-2017-pitti92-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.nonsolomodanews.it\/wordpress\/interview-with-shania-matthews-winner-of-polimoda-fashion-show-2017-best-collection-2017-pitti92-2\/","title":{"rendered":"Interview with Shania Matthews, winner of Polimoda Fashion Show 2017 – Best Collection 2017 – Pitti#92 –"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Shania<\/a>

Dress by Shania Matthews<\/p><\/div>\n

22 year old Shania Matthews<\/strong> from the United Kingdom is the winner of \u201cThe Best Collection 2017\u201d<\/strong> prize at the end if the \u201cTell Me About You\u201d<\/strong> fashion show which was held at Polimoda\u2019s Villa Favard in Florence. For the 92nd<\/sup>\u00a0edition of Pitti Uomo. Polimoda presented 19 young emerging talent graduates in Fashion Design in an event to celebrate their completion of their four year programme, and an official presentation of the upcoming young designers to a selection of Journalists, companies and industry professionals. Shania convinced the judges made up of some of the most influential names in the international fashion industry, including Christiane Arp, Diane Pernet and David Fischer which her womenswear collection \u201cChildren Should Be Seen and Not Heard\u201d. Inspired by her mother\u2019s childhood in Northern Ireland between the 60s and 70s.<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

For the readers of Nonsolomodenews, who is Shania Matthews?\u00a0<\/strong>“Shania Matthews is a young British Fashion Designer recently graduated from Polimoda. She has lived the last four years in Florence, Italy. In both her designs and everyday life colours play an important role.\u00a0<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

You are graduating in Fashion Design. The prize was given to you for your womenswear collection \u201cChildren Should Be Seen and Not Heard\u201d, the story of your mother. Do you want to talk about this, why did you choose this theme?\u00a0<\/strong>“My concept is something that is both very current and personal to me. The story of my mothers childhood I had only heard segments of throughout my life as she herself was trying to forget the past. However, with the current situation of the UK leaving the EU, this evoked memories from the past with the rising tension between England and Ireland. It was during the time of \u2018The Troubles\u2019 when my mum had lived in Northern Ireland in the 60\u2019s-70s. Through photos a childhood seemingly happy, but it was a different way of life, that presented her with a lot of dangers being part English, as the Irish wanted the English out”.<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

What did you study before you came to study at Polimoda?\u00a0<\/strong>“Before Polimoda I studied A-level Economics, English literature, Art and Mathematics. The only fashion related things I had done before Polimoda other than textiles in art was short courses that I had attended during the summer at Central Saint Martins”.<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

When did you become interested in Fashion?\u00a0<\/strong>“I have alway been interested in arts and making things, that I feel fashion was just the next step. It was in high school however that I took a particular interest in textile art and started experimenting a lot”.<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

Which Fashion Designers are you influenced by? “<\/strong>Recently I have been very influenced by Rosie Assoulin for her styling and Missoni for their knitwear, as they use many techniques to create their garments”.<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

What is the point that you realise the clothes for a collection?\u00a0<\/strong>“During the design process I started with collages to create the primary ideas for silhouette. It is then through draping and experimentation that I was able to reach the final outcome of my garments”.<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

To create a collection, do you choose everything yourself, such as materials or you you get your friends to give you a hand? \u00a0<\/strong>“For my collection I chose all the fabrics and wools myself, but I feel it is always important to get a second opinion from friends or teachers, as working on one collection for so long can start to close your mind off creatively. For most\u00a0 of my collection however I used a lot of knitwear, so I had a lot of freedom with creating colours by mixing the wools. And for my fabrics I dyed them achieve the colours i wanted and others I had found”.<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

In which moment is it most difficult in creating a collection?\u00a0<\/strong>“The most difficult point for me is usually the starting point, when realising the theme or idea. I always get over excited in the beginning of a project as I have too many ideas, so it can be hard to come up with just one”.<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

What does it mean to be selected as an emerging talent for new fashion designers?\u00a0<\/strong>“I am very honoured to have been chosen, although I will say it was a shock to me. There are so many talented people in my year, getting into the show was an achievement”.<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

Who was the first person to complement you ?\u00a0<\/strong>“The first person who complemented me was my friend who is a journalist, she had complemented me for being selected, but at this point I did not know the news so I assumed she was complementing me for participating in the show until she said otherwise”.<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

Do you think that with this victory and with many reflectors on your professional life you can take a different path or are you already at the head of what you want to do?\u00a0<\/strong>“I feel that being selected is a good step forwards for me, particularly moving forwards into the fashion industry. However this is still the beginning, I am very open to any future opportunities, whether they are in fashion or even in other parts of the creative industry”.<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

What will you take from your Italian experience?\u00a0<\/strong>“The language is something I hope to take with me, as I am learning more and more everyday”.<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

Do you have any thanks in particular you need to make?\u00a0<\/strong>“I have been influenced and inspired by all the people I have met in Florence, particularly my friends and teachers. Thanks to my mum for telling me her stories of her childhood along with helping me finish off the collection”.<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

Italian version.\u00a0<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

\"Dress<\/a>

Dress by Shania Matthews<\/p><\/div>\n

22 anni, viene dal Regno Unito, si chiama Shania Matthews<\/strong> ed \u00e8 la vincitrice del premio “The Best Collection for 2017” al termine del fashion show\u00a0<<Tell Me About You>>\u00a0che si \u00e8 tenuto presso la sede Polimoda di Villa Favard, a Firenze. In occasione della edizione #92 di Pitti Immagine Uomo. Il Polimoda ha presentato al mondo della moda 19 giovani talenti emergenti diplomandi in Fashion Design, in un evento che ha celebrato la conclusione di un percorso di studi durato quattro anni e costituisce la presentazione ufficiale dei giovani designer a un pubblico selezionato di fashion insider, tra giornalisti, aziende e professionisti del settore. Shania ha convinto la giuria, composta da alcuni dei nomi pi\u00f9 influenti della moda internazionale, tra cui\u00a0Christiane Arp, Diane Pernet\u00a0e\u00a0David Fischer, con la sua collezione womenswear\u00a0Children Should Be Seen and Not Heard, ispirata alla storia della sua famiglia in Irlanda negli anni \u201960-70.<\/span><\/p>\n

Per i lettori di Nonsolomodanews chi \u00e8 Shania Matthews?\u00a0<\/strong>“Shania Matthews \u00e8 un giovane designer britannico di moda recentemente diplomato da Polimoda. Ha vissuto negli ultimi quattro anni a Firenze, Italia. In entrambi i suoi disegni e la vita quotidiana i colori svolgono un ruolo importante”.<\/span><\/p>\n

Tu ti stai per diplomare in Fashion Design. Il premio che ti \u00e8 stato conferito per la tua womenswear collezione dal titolo “Children should be seen and not heard”, si rifa alla storia della tua famiglia. Ce ne vuoi parlare? Perch\u00e8 hai scelto questo tema?\u00a0<\/strong>“Il mio concetto \u00e8 qualcosa di molto attuale e personale per me. La storia dell’infanzia di mia madre, io avevo solo sentito segmenti per tutta la mia vita, mentre lei stessa stava cercando di dimenticare il passato. Tuttavia, con la situazione attuale del Regno Unito che sta lasciando l’Unione Europea, questo ha evocato ricordi dal passato con la crescente tensione tra l’Inghilterra e l’Irlanda. Era durante il periodo dei <<Troubles>>quando mia madre aveva vissuto in Irlanda del Nord negli anni ’60 e ’70. Attraverso le foto un’infanzia apparentemente felice, ma era un modo diverso di vita, che le presentava con molti pericoli essendo inglese siccome gli irlandesi volevano gli inglesi fuori”.<\/span><\/p>\n

Quali studi hai fatto prima di venire a Firenze a studiare al Polimoda?\u00a0<\/strong>“Prima del Polimoda ho studiato A-level Economia, letteratura inglese, arte e matematica. Le uniche cose legate alla moda che avevo fatto prima del Polimoda oltre ai tessuti dell’arte erano corsi brevi che avevo partecipato durante l’estate a Central Saint Martins”.<\/span><\/p>\n

Quando ti sei avvicinata alla moda?\u00a0<\/strong>“Sono sempre stato interessata alle arti e a fare le cose, che ritengo che la moda sia solo il passo successivo. Era nel liceo tuttavia che ho preso un particolare interesse per l’arte tessile e ho iniziato a sperimentare molto”.<\/span><\/p>\n

In questi anni hai avuto un fashion designer al quale ti ha influenzato?\u00a0<\/strong>“Recentemente sono stata molto influenzata da Rosie Assoulin per il suo stile e Missoni per la loro maglieria, in quanto utilizzano molte tecniche per creare i loro capi.<\/span><\/p>\n

Qual \u00e8 il tuo punto forte nella realizzazione dei capi di una collezione?\u00a0<\/strong>“Durante il processo di progettazione ho iniziato i collage per creare le idee primarie per la silhouette. \u00c8 dunque attraverso il drappeggio e la sperimentazione che sono riuscita a raggiungere l’esito finale dei miei indumenti”.<\/span><\/p>\n

Per realizzare una collezione scegli tutto tu, intendo i materiali, oppure ti avvali di amici collaboratori che ti danno una mano?\u00a0<\/strong>“Per la mia collezione ho scelto tutti i tessuti e le lane, ma ritengo che sia sempre importante ottenere un secondo parere da amici o insegnanti, poich\u00e9 lavorare su una collezione per cos\u00ec tanto tempo pu\u00f2 iniziare a chiudere la tua mente in modo creativo. Per la maggior parte della mia collezione tuttavia ho usato un sacco di maglieria, quindi ho avuto molta libert\u00e0 con la creazione di colori mescolando le lane. E per i miei tessuti li ho tinti per ottenere i colori che volevo e altri che avevo trovato”.<\/span><\/p>\n

Qual \u00e8 il momento pi\u00f9 difficile per una collezione?\u00a0<\/strong>“Il punto pi\u00f9 difficile per me \u00e8 solitamente il punto di partenza, quando ci si rende conto del tema o dell’idea. Sono sempre eccitata all’inizio di un progetto perch\u00e9 ho troppe idee, quindi pu\u00f2 essere difficile trovare una sola”.<\/span><\/p>\n

Cosa significa vincere un premio cos\u00ec importanti per nuovi fashion designer?\u00a0<\/strong>“Sono molto onorata di essere stato scelta, anche se dir\u00f2 che \u00e8 stato uno shock per me. Ci sono cos\u00ec tante persone di talento nel mio anno, entrare nello show \u00e8 stata una conquista”.<\/span><\/p>\n

Chi \u00e8 stata la prima persona a farti i complimenti?<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

“La prima persona che si \u00e8 complimentata con me \u00e8 stata la mia amica che \u00e8 un giornalista, la quale si era complimentata per essere stata scelta, ma a questo punto non sapevo la notizia, quindi immaginavo che si stesse complimentando per la mia partecipazione allo spettacolo fino a quando non mi ha detto altrimenti”.<\/span><\/p>\n

Pensi che con questa vittoria e con molti riflettori addosso la tua vita professionale possa prendere una strada differente o hai gi\u00e0 ben in testa che cosa vorrai fare?\u00a0<\/strong>“Sento che essere stata selezionata \u00e8 un buon passo avanti per me, soprattutto in avanti verso l’industria della moda. Tuttavia, questo \u00e8 ancora l’inizio, sono molto aperta a tutte le future opportunit\u00e0, siano esse di moda o addirittura in altre parti dell’industria creativa”.<\/span><\/p>\n

Che cosa ti porterai con te di questa esperienza italiana?\u00a0<\/strong>“La lingua italiana \u00e8 qualcosa che spero di portare con me, imparando sempre di pi\u00f9 ogni giorno”.<\/span><\/p>\n

Hai qualche ringraziamento in particol<\/strong><\/span>are da fare?\u00a0<\/strong>“Sono stata influenzata e ispirata da qualsiasi persona che ho incontrato a Firenze, in particolare i miei amici e insegnanti. Grazie a mia mamma per avermi raccontato le sue storie della sua infanzia che mi hanno permesso di finire la collezione”.<\/p>\n

Le fotografie sono state fornite dal Polimoda – Intervista a cura di Bruno Angelo Porcellana
\nTutti i diritti riservati \u00a9 2017 \u2013 Email: nonsolomodanews@gmail.com<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

22 year old Shania Matthews from the United Kingdom is the winner of “The Best Collection 2017” prize at the end if the “Tell Me About You” fashion show which was held at Polimoda’s Villa Favard in Florence. For the 92nd edition of Pitti Uomo. Polimoda presented 19 young emerging talent graduates in Fashion Design in an event to celebrate their completion of their four year programme, and an official presentation of the upcoming young designers to a selection of Journalists, companies and industry professionals. Shania convinced the judges made up of some of the most influential names in the international fashion industry, including Christiane Arp, Diane Pernet and David Fischer which her womenswear collection “Children Should Be Seen and Not Heard”. Inspired by her mother’s childhood in Northern Ireland between the 60s and 70s.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":16402,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"rop_custom_images_group":[],"rop_custom_messages_group":[],"rop_publish_now":"initial","rop_publish_now_accounts":[],"rop_publish_now_history":[],"rop_publish_now_status":"pending","footnotes":""},"categories":[16],"tags":[2197,2307,2328,2345],"class_list":["post-16401","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-articolo","tag-polimoda","tag-shania-matthews","tag-tell-me-about-you","tag-the-best-collection-2017"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nonsolomodanews.it\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/16401","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nonsolomodanews.it\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nonsolomodanews.it\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nonsolomodanews.it\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nonsolomodanews.it\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=16401"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.nonsolomodanews.it\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/16401\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":16407,"href":"https:\/\/www.nonsolomodanews.it\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/16401\/revisions\/16407"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nonsolomodanews.it\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/16402"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nonsolomodanews.it\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=16401"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nonsolomodanews.it\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=16401"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nonsolomodanews.it\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=16401"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}