Andreas Schmidl & Josef Lazo. Foto: Märta Thisner.
Årligen delar Swedish Fashion Council ut priset Swedish Fashion Talent of The Year. Under modeveckan i augusti 2016 delades ytterligare ett pris ut- Swedish Fashion Council Changers Award, med syftet att lyfta ett varumärke som främjat branschens utveckling. Priset tilldelades Lazoschmidl, med motivationen “Lyskraften och det starka egna uttrycket i såväl design som koncept bidrar med ny kraft i den svenska modebranschen. Genom ett helt nytt designspråk skapar man en värld där traditionella normer, rådande stilideal och könsroller inte har en plats”.
En vän till mig brukar skämta om att “kärlek det är inte din grej, du är inte en sån som går runt och längtar efter att bli kär”, det låter jättetragiskt och är verkligen ett skämt. Men ibland tänker jag ändå att det till viss del är sant. Jag har fullt upp med min kärleksrelation till mode, och när jag tittar på något som Lazoschmidls Spring Summer 2017-kollektion (den som visades där i augusti 2016) dunkar mitt hjärta så hårt att om något annat skulle försöka ta sig in där finns det risk för hjärtinfarkt.
Det var därför ett rent drömscenario för mig när jag förra veckan fick ett ja på frågan om de ville chatta med mig inför deras för-första-gången-egna-visning nu på söndag klockan 18:00.
Ett drömscenario som jag tror kommer göra alla (ungefär) lika lyckliga som jag, för Josef Lazo och Andreas Schmidl är lika rappa i k*ften som de är begåvade. Varsågoda, från mig till er, en chatt med Lazoschmidl.
För att chatten skulle få ett så naturligt flyt som möjligt är den på engelska då ena halvan av designduon, Andreas, är engelsk/tysktalande.
Amanda
hi!
Josef
hi!
Amanda
how are you doing?
Josef
i’m good, a bit tired
we did our FW17 shoot this saturday here in Paris… those things always drain you
Andreas
recovering…
Amanda
it was intense?
Josef
the work with a collection is always intense… i was actually stitching a jacket new years eve… i closed the blinds and turned the music up loud to not hear the people having fun outside haha
Amanda
haha omg really
Josef
really
Amanda
the curse of fashionweek
Josef
totes
Amanda
when will you be back in Stockholm? your show is next sunday right?
Andreas
we’ll be back a week prior to show
do final fittings, last adjustments, show test
Amanda
you must be pretty stressed now?
or do you manage to keep calm
Josef
i think we are both very calm
at least we pretend
Andreas
calm enough to react quickly
Josef
we are very specific with how we want things… that always helps
Amanda
yes, i can imagine
Andreas
so amanda, what are you imagining ;)
Josef
you’ve received the invite so you know the title
Amanda
well
i’m sitting here with the invite right now
it appears to be a picture of a blow job going on?
Andreas
who knows…
Josef
i wasn’t there… unfortunately
Amanda
haha
Andreas
Amanda
you can’t have fun all the time
Andreas
maybe it’s at a street food market
Josef
i think there are plenty of the eggplants in the blacked out parts of the image
Amanda
tell me about the title
”velvet & cream”
Josef
what does it make you feel though?
Andreas
hungry, warm?
Josef
or both
Amanda
i just think sex right now
so both
haha
Andreas
good combo
Josef
don’t we all think of sex all the time really?
Amanda
probably
so, hungry and warm
do you want people to feel that
Andreas
yes please
Josef
i think that is a very good feeling
Amanda
it’s a wonderful feeling
Amanda
can you tell me a little bit about your brand
Andreas
we always describe the philosophy with “taste the forbidden fruit”
it’s smart and sexy
Amanda
i read an interview with you guys
for rodeo wave, by Agnes
Josef
yes she did that after our FW16 collection
Amanda
you talked a lot about sexuality, and about ”straight guys” or guys with girlfriends that fuck their male friends
Josef
i knew that would be the topic
Andreas
it’s quantitive research
Josef
well sexuality is interesting
Andreas
i’m happy for them
there’s a nice meme saying god placed the male g spot in the butt to end human existence
Josef
haha
Amanda
haha
well, when i look att your SS17 collection
all the pictures
which are amazing btw
Josef
they are not so sexual really
Amanda
i think they are super sexual!
Josef
they are hot!
Andreas
but they are non-sexual
Amanda
explain!
Andreas
they just are
Amanda
i get that vibe
that all they really wanna do is touch each other
but maybe that’s just my fantasy? haha
Josef
i think what’s nice about it, is the fact that it’s very label less
Amanda
is that your thing?
or what you’re striving for
Andreas
they are friends, frenemies, lovers and foes
Josef
it’s for the viewer to intrepid the way they want
Andreas
we explicitly do not want to exclude any interpretation or meaning
Amanda
but you surely want to lead the way somewhere?
Josef
we answered an interview recently with this sentence ‘In essence, it is sensory and sensual experiences that motivate each collection.’
Andreas
it’s human
existential
essential
experimental
Amanda
let’s talk inspiration, for this collection?
or theme maybe
Andreas
Amanda’s desires
Amanda
i love that
let’s make it all about me
Andreas
we asked hundred men on the streets of Stockholm ”what would Amanda want to see you wear”
Amanda
what was the answer?
Andreas
nothing really
Josef
skin!
Andreas
so we have a complete show without clothes
like in Pret A Porter, the movie
Amanda
perfect
just what i wanted to hear
Josef
‘The Emperors new Clothes’
Amanda
you saw a lot of skin the previous collection, and body in general, everything was very tight
Josef
nothing will be changed really when it comes to the tightness
Andreas
it’s dressed up nudity
Josef
we need to give the viewer lust
FW17 is an homage to the lust of life
Amanda
i talked to my roomie just before we started chatting
we talked about the tightness
Josef
ok and what was your conclusion
Amanda
how men so rarely dress that way
and it’s such a shame
not just because it’s hot
but it’s fun
Josef
they do though
tight jeans
but maybe not a leopard body
Amanda
yeah, but whatever
denim is not so revealing
Josef
depends what you got to reveal
Andreas
they all should do leo body
they like it and we all like it
leo undies for the world
Amanda
amen!!!
Josef
we had a few orders actually for the leo tangas
Amanda
really?
Andreas
bestseller
from cute guys
Josef
i think if you wear something kinky under your normal clothes you will be so strong
i mean especially in sweden, men should consider their underwear more
Andreas
or they should just go commando
Josef
well then no sales for us
they should just go leo
Amanda
can you tell me a little bit more about the fall collection
give me something
color, anything
Andreas
there’s something we just discussed that will reappear
Amanda
leo tangas?
Josef
no that was SS17
Amanda
then what’s reappearing
Andreas
something in between
Josef
something we will always do is a mix of sexy qualities, that’s something which will reappear
Amanda
the tightness, some skin
some boys
Andreas
definitely
Josef
this will be our largest collection to date, so yeah some boys will be served
Amanda
longing
how big?
the collection
Andreas
20cm
Amanda
Josef
as we mentioned in the beginning we just did the shoot and i have to say it’s looking really good, am i allowed to say that?
Amanda
yes of course you are
Andreas
it looks damn good
Josef
i think what we are both looking forward to with this show is the fact that we have the full creative direction on how we want to present this collection
it will be our first solo show
Amanda
yes, and that’s a whole other thing
to be completely in charge
Andreas
we’ve been waiting for that night
Josef
i have been waiting for that night since i was a young boy
i’m going to say something cheesy, i sometimes get goosebumps thinking about it
Amanda
i was very excited when you told me that you were doing a solo show Josef
some nights ago
Josef
that you even remember that…
Amanda
of course i do
that’s all i do
collect information
and feel
like any other human?
Josef
feel is a good word, i think this collection is very ‘feelable’
Andreas
we’re all about feelings
Josef
physical as mental
Amanda
give me 5 feelings that describe your collection
Andreas
fear, guilt, happiness, desire, irony
Josef
yup!
Amanda
interesting
looking at the invite i felt fear, guilt, desire and irony
Josef
so did the person in the picture
Amanda
haha
Andreas
which one?
the aubergine?
Josef
both i guess, feelings spread on both of them
Amanda
what do you think about mens fashion in general?
or menswear
or whatever you call it
Josef
i like that there are more and more options
things are happening
maybe not so much in sweden but internationally yes
Andreas
we love it
menswear has the ease and freedom
Josef
there are so many rules to break that it’s fun
Amanda
what’s your response from men
regarding your clothes
Josef
i mean i think people would want to wear it but some are chickens
there are pieces that aren’t so dearing
Amanda
i have a hard time seeing a lot of straight guys in your clothes, but i think that every man secretly would love to wear it
the more daring pieces
Andreas
i agree
Josef
there are enough clothes on the market for the ‘straight’ guy anyway
Amanda
yes
that’s not what’s missing
Josef
exactly, we offer an alternative
Andreas
everyone is gay
but doesn’t need to be gay
Josef
when i lived in London they used to joke only difference is a pint of beer
Amanda
hahaha
true
Andreas
i like that gay also means happy
Josef
english language is so good for that reason
Amanda
is that what you mean by happiness
the five feelings
Josef
for sure!
Andreas
i love happiness
Amanda
everyone does
which means everyone love/will love your brand
Andreas
eventually
in 100 years
Josef
i hope
Amanda
no one will hesitate to wear those tank tops
Josef
i hope the people we respect likes it
not everyone has to like it
Amanda
no
that would be sort of boring
Josef
yes
Amanda
ok, well
i’m looking forward to being entertained next sunday
really really really eager to see it
can hardly wait
Andreas
Amanda
is there something you would like to tell me? that you want everyone to know
Andreas
be ready to be happy
Josef
and to enjoy