MARCH 2002
EAST TOUCH MAGAZINE – INTERVIEW BY YUMAN NG
THE FIRST RICK OWENS STORE HAS OPENED IN HONG KONG. HOW DO YOU FEEL?
I THINK OF THE SONG “NESSUN DORMA” FROM THE OPERA “TURANDOT.” A NOT ALTOGETHER ACCURATE FANTASY OF CHINA, BUT I LOVE FANTASY, DON’T YOU? IT’S A SONG OF SUCH ACHING LONGING, TENDERNESS AND DETERMINATION THAT EXPRESSES EVERYTHING I’VE EVER WANTED TO SAY, AND DESCRIBES EMOTIONS THAT EVERYONE CAN RELATE TO, NO MATTER WHERE THEY’RE FROM.
WHAT IS THE INTERIOR DESIGN CONCEPT OF THE STORE?
I WANT ALL OF MY STORES TO LOOK LIKE A LEATHER BAR DESIGNED BY EILEEN GREY.
WHAT IS FASHION?
AN ENJOYABLE AND FUNDAMENTAL WAY FOR PEOPLE TO EXPRESS THEMSELVES AND DISCRETELY COMMUNICATE.
WHAT IS YOUR DESIGN PHILOSOPHY?
I’M TRYING TO CREATE A SIMPLE, GRACEFUL LINE FROM POINT A TO POINT B.
CAN YOU DESCRIBE YOURSELF IN 3 WORDS?
SELF-FORGIVING MONSTER.
WHAT IS YOUR MUSE / INSPIRATIONS OF YOUR DESIGN?
CONTRAST. THE INDECISION BETWEEN COLLAPSE AND CONTROL, BRUTALITY AND REFINEMENT, GRACE AND UGLINESS.
WHAT IS THE MEANING OF YOUR COLOR SCHEME, WHICH IS MAINLY BLACK, WHITE AND GREY ?
I PREFER TO SPEAK WITH TEXTURES AND SILHOUETTES. ADDING COLOR WOULD BE TOO MUCH INFORMATION.
CAN YOU DESCRIBE YOUR DESIGN AESTHETIC?
BROKEN IDEALISM.
WHICH COLLECTION IS YOUR BEST?
I HAVE VERY FOND MEMORIES OF S/S 2009: THE PACE, THE MUSIC AND SEVERITY OF THE CLOTHES ALL CAME TOGETHER PERFECTLY FOR ME.
CAN YOU TELL US ABOUT YOUR FIRST JOB?
MY FIRST JOB EVER? I WORKED AS A SALESPERSON IN A CHILDREN'S CLOTHING STORE IN PORTERVILLE, THE VERY SMALL TOWN IN CALIFORNIA THAT I WAS RAISED IN.
WHAT DO YOU BELIEVE IN?
DISCIPLINE.
FOR YOU, WHAT IS LIFE?
MOMENTUM.
WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT THIS WORLD?
I THINK IT WAS MARVELOUS LONG BEFORE WE ARRIVED AND WILL BE MARVELOUS LONG AFTER WE ARE GONE.
YOUR FAVORITE FOODS, MOVIES, MOVIE DIRECTOR, MUSIC/SONG AND BOOKS?
FOODS
CHEESEBURGERS
COOKED FOIE GRAS
CAKE
MOVIES
PINK FLAMINGOS
THE DEVILS
CAMELOT
DIRECTORS
KEN RUSSELL
SATYAJIT RAY
JOSEF VON STERNBERG
MUSIC
MONTSERRAT CABALLE
TRANCE GENERATORS
LOU REED
BOOKS
MAPP AND LUCIA
AU REBOURS
SACRED MONSTERS
WHO ARE YOUR MALE ICONS?
LIBERACE, NEIL YOUNG, GARY COOPER, IGGY POP, HELMUT BERGER, DIVINE.
AND THE FEMALE ICONS?
CHARLOTTE RAMPLING, EDITH SITWELL, VANESSA REDGRAVE, AUDREY HEPBURN, DIVINE.
WHO IS YOUR FAVORITE FASHION DESIGNER? AND WHY?
VIONNET. HER SIMPLICITY, MODESTY AND ELEGANCE SEEM APPROPRIATE AND RATIONAL, EVEN NOW.
WHAT DO YOU HAVE FAITH IN?
RESILIENCE.
WHAT THINGS DO YOU HATE?
I TRY NOT TO HATE.
WHAT ARE THE THINGS YOU LOVE?
THE LIST IS ENDLESS.
WHERE WOULD YOU LIKE TO TRAVEL?
I HAVE YET TO GO TO CHINA AND INDIA.
DO YOU HAVE ANY TATTOO? WHAT DO THEY MEAN?
I HAVE 20-YEAR-OLD TATTOOS THAT, AT THE TIME, MEANT DEFIANCE, AGGRESSION AND ABANDON. THAT PERIOD OF MY LIFE HAS PASSED, BUT I LOOK AT THEM NOW WITH AFFECTIONATE MEMORIES.
WHAT IS YOUR DREAM WORLD?
VICES THAT I’VE GIVEN UP.
WHAT IS YOUR HOBBY?
WORK, OF COURSE.
WHAT DO YOU NORMALLY DO ON THE WEEKEND?
HAVE TIME TO CREATE.
WHAT IS YOUR FASHION MOMENT?
GOING INTO ONE OF MY STORES AND SEEING A SUMMARIZATION OF EVERYTHING I’VE DONE CAN SOMETIMES BE VERY SATISFYING.
HAVE YOU EVER WORN A SUIT?
SURE, WHEN I WAS A KID.
WHY ARE COLLARED MEN'S SHIRTS NOT IN YOUR COLLECTIONS?
THEY ARE JUST NOT SOMETHING THAT INTERESTS ME. AND I DON’T FEEL LIKE I HAVE TO PLEASE EVERYONE.
WHAT IS THE BEST PARTY YOU HAVE BEEN TO?
I’M NOT MUCH OF A PARTY PERSON, BUT I LOVE BEING ON A DANCE FLOOR IN THE EARLY MORNING IN A HAZE OF FOG WHEN THE MUSIC GETS INTENSE.
CAN YOU SHOW SOME YOUR HAND DRAWINGS TO HONG KONG FANS?
I DON’T REALLY DRAW. I WORK WITH THE FABRIC AND PATTERNS AND MAKE NOTES ON COMPUTER IMAGES.
HOW MANY PAIRS OF SHOES YOU HAVE?
PERSONALLY? ONLY ONE PAIR AT A TIME. I USUALLY CHANGE EVERY 3 MONTHS.
IN 10 YEARS, RICK OWENS WILL...?
...BE LIVING ON HIS VINTAGE BATTLESHIP BETWEEN CORSICA AND EGYPT.
WHAT IS YOUR NEXT PROJECT IN ASIA?
NO IDEA YET.
HAVE YOU COME HONG KONG BEFORE? OR WILL YOU?
AS SOON AS I CAN.
