* uN NOUvEAU iDEAL by fILEP mOTWARY

Dear iDEALS, knitwear has been rejected by many designers of our times. Probably because it needs something more than clever color combination. About twenty days ago, while at the Louis Vuitton Private party at Hotel Crillon in Paris, I came across a tall, beautiful lady, wearing a red bohemian 1970's dress with curly- down to her shoulders hair and piercing eyes. I went up to her and made a compliment as I always do to people I like and asked whether I could take her picture. She said that she is a knitwear designer and wrote her web-link on a piece of paper. With my return to Athens, the first thing I did was to search for her and when her link opened on my screen I realized that it was Sandra Backlund, the kniwear designer whom I first seen on my friend's Diane blog and for whom I wrote a compliment comment. Sandra's work is something larger than imagination. It is exactly what fashion needed for a while now. With a bunch of awards and qualifications on her back, in my opinion she can take over a "deserted: fashion house and turn it into an oasis. I present her here, on Un nouVeau iDEAL, feeling happy that she is a hard worker, a beautiful woman packed with talents. Before I move with her interview, I would like to wih GOOD LUCK to Sandra for this years FESTIVAL D'HYERES. FilepMotwary: Sandra, by looking at your CV/Biography, the least one can say is “CONGRATULATIONS”. How did you manage to get yourself involved in so many things at such a young age? SandraBacklund: I guess you can say that I am a hard working girl. The reason why I did study so much before I got into fashion is because I did not know which path to choose for myself. I was really interested in arts and craft, but also the more theoretical side of those things, like culture in general. Except from this last three years working with my own company I have been spending most of my life in school learning things. I am a searcher but without set goals, so that means I will never get satisfied. FilepMotwary:I am certain that by choosing knitwear as your final “path”, you automatically belong to a new kind of profile in modern fashion. All most of us knew so far was Missoni and Benetton? SandraBacklund: I am glad that you think so, but it was never my intention to figure out a thing to do that would bring me fame or make me a profile on something so specific. I do not feel like I chose knitwear, it just happened that way. I like to experiment with materials and three dimension shapes and the kind of knitting that I do is just perfect for that. It has become the ultimate way for me to get an outlet both for my ideas and my need to work with my hands.FilepMotwary: How did your collaboration for Fall/Winter 2007 with Louis Vuitton go? What was it exactly about? SandraBacklund: They did contact me after seeing an image of my work in some magazine. They said that they have been looking for someone to collaborate with on knitwear and that they found my work really interesting. I was invited to Paris for a meeting and I accepted the offer to do some special knitwear pieces for their Fall/Winter 2007 collection. Since I have never worked with another company before, not even done an internship, it was a really good experience for me. I learned a lot that will be good for the future, especially about myself.FilepMotwary: What does fashion mean to you? What does it need in your opinion? What is modern and what is old? SandraBacklund: For me fashion is simply art. A democratic form of art that almost everyone do relate to wheater they want to or not. Therefore I also think it has to be treated that way. I can not stand the whole what is in and what is not conversation. Trends, seasons and wearability is not the only measurements for fashion. Who decided that colours and shapes no longer have their own independent meaning and are possible to use without a trend experts approval. People in general should be more self-governed when it comes to fashion. Isn´t it so that if you like something you will know it, without anyone telling you to.FilepMotwary: You are one of the finalists for this year’s FESTIVAL D’HYERES, chosen by Christian Lacroix. What do you want to get out of this competition? What do you expect to see at Villa Noaelles? SandraBacklund: I am so happy that I was chosen for the final! I have no specific expectations but I am really looking forward to be a part of all this and show my collection in such a creative environment. The people involved are very respectable and everyone tells me that the place of Hyères is amazing so what more can you ask?FilepMotwary: Yes Hyeres is amazing. I wish I was there to make a report about it. Sandra, do you think that in any way your studies in HISTORY OF ART helped you transform/create that your designs have? SandraBacklund: Of course I think that my History of Arts studies is helping me in some way, even though I never sit down and choose such concrete inspirations for myself. I guess it is the same as with everything else, it is always good to know the basics if you are reaching for the next level.FilepMotwary: Since 2004 you have been nominated for many awards and scholarships: H&M, ELLE, Festival D’Hyeres….Naturally one would stop after being credited with such honors and qualifications…You never seem to stop? SandraBacklund: I do not work for awards and scholarships, I work only for me, so that is why I would never stop just because someone else is giving me credit for previous work. FilepMotwary: Are you happy? SandraBacklund: Yes I am happy, I just wish I was able to allow myself to rest and have some fun sometimes. FilepMotwary: Could you share with us your future plans? SandraBacklund: I never think much about the future, except of course in terms of ideas for new clothes, then I am always two collections ahead. In June I will be a part of the Arnhem Fashion Biennale exhibition in The Netherlands, but except from that I have no written plan. I always try to live as much as possible in the moment and accept or turn down offers as they come to me. FilepMotwary: What would you advise a young person that wants to be involved in KNITWEAR? SandraBacklund:To spend a lot of time to learn and explore the basics and be aware of any mistakes and ideas along the way that can bring you beyond traditional knitting. NOTE: THE COPYRIGHTS OF THIS INTERVIEW BELONG TO FILEP MOTWARY AND UN NOUVEAU iDEAL