Linda Loppa interview/intervista: Caterina Montagni (Studentessa Polimoda)

1. Dear Caterina, you are from a Nordic country. Can you be more precise about your origins and the inspiration that is present in your work?

My origins and culture to be precise Finland, have always influenced my work as a designer.
I am very attracted by the landscapes of the North, the state of mind, the light, the colour, the people who live now, my ancestor and especially the indigenous people of Lapland. Everything I do, everything about me, reflects on my origins. Images, emotions, my senses that I perceived from my childhood, I try to bring them out always in a different mood. Always trying to develop my sensations, all of my work has grown the same ending. They finish with me re-discovering myself, finding inside me my hidden qualities, which can be expressed thru my designs, as I am a very reserved person. My basic inspiration is like a trip in continuous evolution with three steps, the first is the history of costumes/memories, the second is the study of the fabrics/colours the last but must important are the emotions.

2. You work a lot with research trough fabrics. Fabric and the action of painting the fabric fascinate you? Where does that fascination come from?

I find working with material/fabric fascinating and stimulating. I could never use a fabric just as it is. Lately I have become more fascinated by knits. My last collection was almost entirely made of knitwear and a part of suede. This collection was born from my desire to be able to design for the body using threads and particular designs derived from minerals. Its concepts are connected with being able to express in the designs the evolution of the shape based on minerals witch in themselves are formed in my opinion in a perfect way. The overlapping creates an organic shape, which flows around the body. All of this inspiration is connected with nature without violence and at the same time is divine, perfect…because is not created by human.
My research is based on the fabric to transfer perceptions, a little poetry to wear every day.

3. The light in your pictures and installations are very particular. How important light is for you?

Lighting is very important not only for setting a particular atmosphere on feeling but mainly
for the state of mind. In Northern Europe this is fundamental where many months are spent in total darkness called “kaamos”, months in which the sun never rises. This has a big effect on
people’s mind,this is the reason why we use such as in Northern Europe is in’ clothing in furniture very strong colours. The colour and the light have an emotional effect on people and fail to promote or oppose state of’mind having a physical and psychological effects that can stimulate the body and mind.

4. You worked already for many companies such as Diesel, but decided to continue studying to find your true identity. I admire this search for expression and I feel you get closer and closer to express your personal values. What is your state of mind today?

Working experience has helped me in my work as a designer. I had to confront many different situations in different countries; this helped me to discover myself and mainly to help me become secure of my potential. Because of my closed character I was not able to express myself easily. At this moment I feel ready and able to face the challenge. If one day I am no longer stimulated by my work therefore not able to face challenges, I will change profession. I don’t’ tolerate it better, and that at time I have, is the monotony and the sense of boring that some companies tend to amounts for marketing reason, this thinking is sometimes really difficult to understand for a creative person.

5. Where would you like to launch your collection? In witch city and why?

Each of my collections is a piece of my heart. I would very much like to launch my collection in the three cities I love most: Florence, Helsinki and London. These cities have influenced my inspiration very much in all my work.

6. You are designing a watch. Can you explain the project?

The project on watches was proposed to me and grows in me more and more everyday. “WE WOOD” is an Italian brand witch was created with the responsibility of trying to save the planet. I think this project was born at the right time. Today people are more interested in our planet, the green vision, and they take it more seriously. Therefore “WE WOOD” watches are made of recycled wood. For every watch that is sold a tree is planted. I am working on creating an image, which contains packaging and advertising. The final product should be in every way environmentally friendly and innovative. These watches are products of design and easily affordable every people.

7. How would you like to present your final collection?

I would like to present my collection to a public audience specialized in the sector. The presentation could be thru a fair (such as PITTI in Florence, a Design Week, or a Fashion Week) but overall thru a photo shooting in a fashion magazine. My dream would be to realize a whole number of A-magazine through my vision. I like not only to create my ideas through the clothes but for me it is very important to express the concept through the photo shooting; painting and above all an installation. Ever better would be to combine the matter setting out my clothes in the windows display in a well known concept store such as Luisa Via Roma a Firenze, 10 Corso Como a Milano or Helsinki 10…

Thank you Linda Loppa for the interview,
Caterina

Thank you Caterina,
All the best with your final collection at Polimoda and your future career,
Linda