When we heard that bright young Danish designer Astrid Andersen was bringing her lush, luxe breed of street-minded menswear to NYFW this season, we practically fell out of our chairs with excitement. Tonight at the Standard Hotel, Astrid will present her first ever “bespoke” collection, a slice of the urban luxury she’s been refining since her Royal College of Art graduate collection broke out back in 2010. Ahead of the show, we caught up with the designer to talk luxury and why the NBA All Star game makes her universe melt.
What motivated you to create a bespoke collection?
I have always had a few pieces in my collections that are very premium and use fur to create pieces of true contemporary luxury. It’s been my dream to be able to really develop this aspect of the brand, so when the opportunity to create a bespoke collection alongside the mainline arose, it felt amazing.
Without revealing too much, what does bespoke look like for Astrid Andersen?
The inspiration and starting point is the same as for the mainline. It’s like an extension of the fall/winter 15 collection, only as the ultimate luxurious version. For the bespoke collection, I wanted to explore a more mature silhouette within a contemporary look.
Will this presentation differ from your past shows, and if so, how?
I want it to feel very intimate. It’s a salon show in a very small beautiful venue. I want it to be slower and more detail oriented than a regular catwalk show. So much work and effort is put into every piece that it would be shame not to pace it down a bit.
Why show this collection in New York?
New York is one of my favourite places on Earth! I’m so inspired by this city and its history within American urban culture. A lot of my aesthetic originates from here, so it was a natural choice for me really. And the market for these pieces is here.
Do you have any other plans while in town? What are some of your favorite places to go, things to do, or people to see in NYC?
OMG, the NBA All Star game is a dream for me. When we found out that was here at the same time as Fashion Week, it felt like the universe just melted.
Should we expect to see future bespoke collections?
I would hope that the bespoke collection will become an annual extension of my autumn/winter collection, but I will have to wait and see how the response is first.
Credits
Text Emily Manning
Photography Piczo