Fashion is a tough business. Making it big in this industry is not as easy as it may seem. Why is it that we only hear about the big fashion brands and designers often and never about emerging young designers? It is because these fashion patrons have lived in this cut-throat field of fashion for years and have mastered the most important do’s and don’ts that exist.
It is a challenge for the up and coming fashion designers to keep up to date with the current trends being showcased in the Milan, Paris, New York fashion weeks and also have their own USP which makes them stand out among the crowd.
One such designer I came across on notjustalabel.com who is worth mentioning is Franziska Fürpass. The creative genius behind the fashion brand “Femme Maison” which she started with her partner George Bezhanishvili soon after graduating from her fashion design school in 2009. Femme Maison which means ‘house for women’, was created keeping in mind a strong confident woman who indulges in her fantasies by showing off her sensual side.
When questioned about how her love for fashion began, she goes on to tell me a little bit about her past. She was born in Styria, Austria in 1983. She started studying Fashion Design at a very young age. The prospect of Fashion was more daunting than exciting for Franziska as she did not particularly enjoy sewing clothes. She was more interested in drawing and creating new designs. With the encouragement of her family who were very forthcoming and supportive of her dreams, she moved to Vienna in 2004 to study in the Fashion Department under Raf Simon and Veronique Branquinho at the University of Applied Arts. This is where her whole perception of fashion changed.
So where does the small town girl draw her inspiration from? “I am a big fan of photographers and painters who portray women and their characteristics through their work”. She goes on to say that even the name ‘Femme Maison’ was inspired by one of the sculpture series by Louise Bourgeois, who is one of the chief sources of inspiration for the label. Her latest collection was inspired by the paintings and illustrations of the renowned Dante Gabriel Rossetti. When asked to describe her latest collection in five words, she says, “ Elegant, pure, emotions, colourful and raw ”.
In all modesty she says the success behind her label goes not only to her but also to the team behind the scenes who help her create designs by giving their creative input, support and different points of view. A lot of thought, care and precision goes into creating each collection and she has deep-rooted connections to each piece she creates as it directly relates to the challenges and experiences she faces in her life.
Her future plans include establishing her label in Paris and creating designs which leave a lasting impression in the world of fashion!
