Howitzweissbach – Fashion at the roll of a dice
[by Lisa Filippini]
Different paths have led Eva Howitz and Frieder Weissbach to the foundation of the label Howitzweissbach. However, their drive and force were equally as powerful from the very beginning. With the launch of their first ready-to-wear collection during Paris Fashion Week “Eins The Game”, the designers have deliberately set their standards very high.
In their own words: “We have set ourselves big goals, but our fashion is so willful and courageous, it demands that we seek our customers internationally.”
What is interesting is seeing how the collection “Eins The Game” came to be. To begin with, the two designers created a collection each. They then “cut them up” and combined the different pieces into one unique collection. Undoubtedly, fate also played a major role in the reassembling of the pieces, as this artistic decision was made by the role of a dice. This resulted in the disappearance of classical lines and familiar shapes, leaving behind a trail of sleeve-like collars and gigantic shoulder pads.
The inspiration for “Eins The Game” came from a mixture ofchildhood memories, Russian constructivists, artists like László Moholny-Nagy and Dutch modernist art movement de Stijl. From beginning to end, this is a project based on the amalgamation of different styles, in which classic and elegant shapes are overwhelmed by strong and vivid primary colours. As Eva Howitz puts it: “wearing our clothes needs courage and an individual mind”.
When it comes to manufacturing, Eva and Frieder believe that communication is key for a happy and functioning working environment. They source people locally and treat everyone that they work with as equals. They choose their material carefully, and they once again conform to their blending credo, combining silk fabrics from Japan with velour leather and jersey from Italy and Merino wool from Austria.
In their future they would like to experiment with menswear, and continue on their journey “ to create pieces that are unmistakably Howitzweissbach and that will still be easily recognisable as such in ten years time”.