Hyakinth

A graduate of Łódź Academy of Fine Arts, Polish designer Jacek Kłosiński, the man behind new label Hyakinth, is a specialist in printing on textiles. His works were shown at the Salon Indigo of Première Vision trade fair in Paris. "When I started making this collection, I realized I was able to express ideas, stories and moods more effectively through clothing than I ever managed to through art. The challenge of having to overcome the restriction of menswear motivated me to be a menswear designer. In contrast to womenswear, menswear is very much rooted in tradition, in which what is appropriate for a man to wear is clearly defined. My work is very much based on the tension created in the process of testing these limits. A good example is the jacket, a classic men's garment but executed in own designed digital printed textile. I discover the beauty of faulty and damaged things, when people tend to look the other way. This environment's imperfection inspires me to make hand-dyed garment", reported the designer.

Interview
Lestat : Who is Jacek Kłosiński ?
Jacek : I'm 25 years old, I'm Polish, I grew up in Łowicz and I now live in Warsaw, the capital city of Poland.
Lestat : How did you start your career ?
Jacek : When I was a student, I made some womenswear collections, but when I started working with Tatuum as a menswear designer, I thought that this was it ! However I quickly noticed there were plenty of restrictions with selling and I started feeling under big pressure. So I decided to work on my own, and I took the chance to achieve my ideas. Moreover I guess it's easier for me to design for men as I'm as a man . I always think of what would be suitable for me.
Lestat : What's a working day like ?
Jacek : I've just started in actuality, so I haven't my own workshop yet, I live and work in the same place, so it's a bit difficult at the moment. I make patterns and cut fabrics, have coffee, I sew, design prints, and I send e-mails ! Sometimes I have appointments. Everything depends on what needs to be done. I have also some lazy days... I currently work alone. But I hope it will change soon !
Lestat : Who/what inspires you most ?
Jacek : Oh I dont like this kind of question. Inspiration is a very complex case. First of all, I like surfing on the Internet to catch the global mood and second of all, I look into my memories, my impressions. For example the next collection I'm preparing is mainly based on my pictures from kindergarten. Trying to recall the atmosphere of those days but in a modern way. Effects soon !
Acording to people, I admire Vivienne Westwood for her absolute distance and sense of humor.
Lestat : How was the process of this first Hyakinth collection ?
Jacek : I started from the digital scan of a photographic film of my trip to Ireland. Then I sorted the images with similar colors out and fixed a mood-board. I was also inspired by Caspar David Friedrich's paintings. Next I designed textile prints. I put together this collection so that all elements can be juxtaposed to individual outfits. Kind of an open composition.
Lestat : Please explain your choice of faded colors.
Jacek : The colors come from the process I've just described. It was very foggy when I reached the Cliffs of Moher in Ireland and I used my analog camera to take pictures. The quality of the scans wasn't so good, but this imperfection gave me a color palette ready to use !
Lestat : What are your projects ?
Jacek : I have no clue. The future will tell. But I keep it up.
Lestat : Is love important to you ?
Jacek : Of course it is! Love inspires and gives the feeling of security. I've been in a relationship for eight years, and this is fascinating for me how the love from high scool is maturing.
Lestat : What do you wear to bed ?
Jacek : I know the right answer is nothing ! But the reality is other, I sleep in tee-shirt and boxer shorts.
Lestat : It was my stupid question, but there's no good or bad answer ! Do you spend much time on the Internet ?
Jacek : Few hours a day. In fact I'm always connected on Facebook with my cell phone.
Lestat : Answer the question you'd like to be asked.
Jacek : I dream of my own showroom, and I wish I could sing !
Oh and by the way, my name Jacek comes from the divine hero Hyacinthus (in Greek, Ὑάκινθος Hyakinthos) from Greek mythology, which explains the name of my label Hyakinth. Hyacinthus was Apollo's lover. Jealous Zephyrus killed him. When he died, Apollo didn't allow Hades to claim the beautiful boy; rather, he made a flower, the hyacinth, from his spilled blood.