THE FACE OF AIGNER
A finer look at Christian Alexander Beck and the evolution of Aigner
We know little about you, please can you tell us about yourself as a fashion designer, where you studied and how the appointment of AIGNER came about? I have never been
afraid to experiment with fashion and after completing a classic apprenticeship as a tailor, I started studying fashion design. During my studies I could already gain first practical experiences with Goldpfeil where I met Sibylle Schön. In 2008 she brought me to AIGNER and that's how it started.
How do you see AIGNER evolving as a brand? Since the beginnings of what is was, handbags were always a key focus, is this still the case? We do have our core competences in
Accessories, but there is still more to explore. The possibilities are limitless and we are continuously developing. The focus was and always will be on leather bags.
What ambitions do you have for AIGNER?
We want to achieve even more for the brand. Continuous brand development is what we are aiming for – we want to make people fall in love with AIGNER.
The A/W19 show was spectacular and the venue was so beautiful and rich in culture and history, was this a reflection of AIGNER as a brand? We've been at Palazzo Reale for
the third time and it was definitely a reflection of the upcoming A/W19 collection. AIGNER stands for tradition, craftsmanship, heritage and high quality at its best.
When you designed the A/W19 collection, what woman did you have in mind? Fashion
is not about setting limits, we want to focus more on a specific kind of attitude. The woman should appear strong and independent in my designs, but at the same time convey a feeling for sensuality and being classy. For me, this contrast is especially important. A woman can be tough and sexy – all at once.
Is there anyone that you admire or that has inspired your work as a designer? I was
inspired by the creative icons of the early 20s, like Schiaparelli or Paul Poiret – they were experimental, new and groundbreaking, but still remained true to their classic line. I appreciate and cherish the great fashion houses, because they kept their roots although developing over decades.
Is there a favourite look or piece from the collection that you feel speaks to the women in this region? To be honest: I’m completely
in love with the entire collection, and I had the pleasure of playing with multiple patterns and flowers and mixing them up in one colour range; combining all those elements together makes the collection very appealing to women in the region.
How do you think Middle Eastern women will interpret your collection and do they ever influence your work? You will notice
many hints of how the Middle Eastern woman dresses; the collection boasts lots of capes and ponchos and even kaftans and tunics. I also play with the idea of layering, which for me is synonymous with modist dressing. You layer things and play with proportions, and this was one of the key features of the collection.
What is it about the Middle East that inspires you? Have you ever been to Dubai? I've been
to Dubai several times for events and have been very close to the Middle Eastern people and I appreciate their view of luxury, craftsmanship and quality. For me it’s the Middle Eastern implicitness of being classy that inspires me.
Is there anything exciting you can tell us about the future of the brand? We are already
working on the new Spring/Summer 2020 collection and we want to focus even more on powerful women – be curious and excited!