2012 Fall Preview: Dominic Louis

What inspired you for fall 2012?
I have always enjoyed the idea of something that is very opposite and combining different attributes to create something new. This season I wanted to take something that was normally considered fairly dark and turn it into something beautiful.  Hence our concept "I AM."  I was inspired by different individuals that surround me that have a story behind a certain human insecurity. Bringing such a broad concept to life took some thought so I collaborated with local photographer Zach Gold and shot a series of portraits to convey this strong message that we would then base the collection on.  It is entitled "A Study of Human Insecurity." These images will also debut with our FW 12 collection this coming fashion week.

How does this play out in terms of colors, materials and shapes?
Because a lot of these human insecurities lend themselves to physical attributes of the subjects the color story ended up lending itself to something that was very much based on anatomy.  We are using warm grays, reds and burnt hues of brown to break up the main base of black that represents the dark meaning of the clothes. The beauty is found in the extreme combinations of texture and more tailored and handmade construction of so many of the pieces.

What music did you listen to while designing this collection?
Holy Other, Balam Acab, and that new Lana Del Ray song Born to Die.

What do you look for when casting your show? 
Now that we're doing full-on womens, it's about representing still the unisex identity of the collection.  I want to show extreme masculinity along with very soft femininity and, of course, those that sort of blur the line in an ethereal way.  

How do you stay energized/balanced in the weeks leading up to NYFW?
As the rack grows I find my energy in seeing the looks come together.  Seeing pieces being finished and getting to share what our vision for the coming debut is. I like to surround myself with friends and colleagues in the work space for dinner and discussion and get their feedback and reflect on life outside of fashion while never leaving our think tank. Because as it gets closer I really never leave.

What other show(s) are you looking forward to seeing this season?
Threeasfour, Rad Hourani and Marchesa.  I know that seams to be a weird lineup but I don't make many shows anymore, so if I'm going to go to a few I'd like to see something very diverse in each one.

How do you plan to unwind after Fashion Week?
Start working on spring!

Louis Mairone will present the Dominic Louis  fall 2012 collection on Thursday, February 9th at upstairs Terrace of The Bowery Hotel.