‘A psychological sickness referred to as creativity’, is how the French designer and architect Philippe Starck describes his industrious work ethic, which has seen him create a number of the twentieth and twenty first centuries’ most memorable objects – amongst them the 1990 Juicy Salif juicer for Alessi and the Louis Ghost Chair for Kartell (deemed ‘probably the most copied plastic chair on the earth’).
He’s an apt face, then, for Stone Island’s new Ghost marketing campaign, a part of an ongoing sequence that drafts worldwide creatives – spanning a large number of disciplines, from performing to structure (and lately together with Joseph Grima) – to entrance the cult Italian streetwear label’s collections. Starck is the most recent within the line-up, chosen to put on Stone Island’s Ghost line, one which is usually favoured by designers for its minimalist codes, whereby every single-colour garment is stripped all the way down to its essence (it’s recognisable for its monochrome model of the signature Stone Island compass badge, which is ‘conceived to mix with the garment’).
‘The Ghost assortment, primarily based on the idea of camouflage and monochrome, suited me very nicely. Residing in the midst of nowhere and being invisible, I used to be in a position to change into seen with out being completely within the highlight,’ says Starck of the David Sims-shot photographs, which have been launched at present (17 September 2024).
Right here, chatting with Wallpaper*, the seminal designer talks about showing in entrance of the digital camera, dwelling like a monk, and the foundations of fine design.
Philippe Starck on his Stone Island marketing campaign, and what makes good design
(Picture credit score: Images by David Sims, courtesy of Stone Island)
Wallpaper*: What do you know of Stone Island previous to starting this venture? Have been you a fan?
Philippe Starck: Initially, I’ve a psychological sickness referred to as creativity, which implies that I reside like a monk, excessive up within the mountains of Sintra in Portugal, in whole autarky. This [is] in an effort to discover the extent of focus I want for the a number of tasks I’m engaged on on the identical time. I do not normally go to cocktail events, I do not learn magazines and so I’m not conscious of what’s popping out within the design world, nor within the style world.
With Stone Island, I found a model whose values and convictions are centred on analysis and innovation in supplies, trying to the longer term, which instantly me and echoed my work. I’m delighted to be one of many nice inventive minds requested to participate within the marketing campaign.
W*: Inform me a bit concerning the jacket you’re carrying within the picture. Did you select it? How did it really feel to put on it?
PS: I’m used to carrying primarily practical, hard-wearing and technical clothes, largely monochrome, which can be utilized in all situations, relying on the place I’m. I’ve due to this fact a variety of hooded T-shirts that I’ve had made to measure.
Following varied options from the Stone Island crew, I selected items that suited me and that I might put on every day, technical and monochrome, such because the down parka fabricated from a really positive merino worsted wool twill and resin-coated inside for a wind-stopping function. It’s created with a hood, raglan sleeves, pockets with flap and snap fastening, so it is rather sensible, comfy, and created from clever supplies.’
(Picture credit score: Images by David Sims, courtesy of Stone Island)
W*: Why do you suppose you have been chosen for this venture? What do you suppose you and Stone Island share?
PS: Primarily based on analysis, innovation, industrial design, devoted to pushing the boundaries of material know-how and garment experimentation; whereas specializing in class and performance. I discovered the hyperlink fairly logical.
For 40 years, I’ve been researching new supplies, pushing producers to go ever additional in design and technicality to understand the creations I keep in mind. I feel probably the most trendy phrases these days are longevity, transmission and heritage. Issues must be clever, trustworthy and sustainable, making an allowance for love, poetry, humour and, above all, imaginative and prescient. These are values that Stone Island appears to share.
W*: What do you suppose makes good design?
PS: I’m satisfied that design work is a query of instinct, of want to do one thing, of an thought. However it’s also a query of concord of the parameters. We have now to grasp a creation like a ball: you’re employed on it and at first it’s a little wobbly. We work on it lots and it turns into increasingly polished, good. And, when it turns into a stainless-steel ball, a crystal ball, we will think about that each one the parameters are balanced.
We will reorient sure parameters, additionally pull it and make it an oval ball, however at a given second there’s concord, there’s steadiness.
stoneisland.com
Supply: Wallpaper
