When Tine Holt Møller and Barbara Hvidt founded Soft Gallery, they created a range with a deeper meaning, for kids and women that want to stand out from the crowd. Their inspirations come from Pop Art, The Ballets Russes, or even Secrets, always interpreted in their very special way. Now they talked about new artists they collaborate with, the fashionable views of their kids and Mickey Mouse jackets with pink lining.
1 When did you start your label?
Both: We started Soft Gallery in 2007. A couple of years later, due to a great interest and demand from women who wished to fit into a size 12y, we expanded with a small luxury t-shirt collection for women based on the same idea as the children's collection...
2 What does the name 'Soft Gallery' mean?
Both: The name "Soft Gallery" came from the idea of a living gallery - a gallery on fabric - a soft gallery. By combining “art” and “clothing” the children are given a unique piece of artwork on a soft canvas. We create the styles and the artwork comes from collaborating with artists from around the world.
3 Why did you call the current collection 'Love is'?
Both: Our inspiration for the "LOVE is" collection is based on weather changes, warm autumn thoughts, falling raindrops, sticking together and the need of romance, poetry and love. And these days: what is more important than love... ;)
4 You always work with great illustrators. Are there still some you haven't worked with and wished to?
Both: We have been very lucky so far. Most of the artists that we have approached have been interested in doing collaboration with us. This is the part we do love the most, and the many people we meet in the process makes the collections so much more versatile and unique... It’s so amazing to develop new work - and friendships with so many skillful people.
Tine: I would love to do collaboration together with Julie Nord or Cathrine Raben Davidsen. Both well-known Danish artists who have created a unique universe, full of magic and where animals are a big part of their work and story telling.
Barbara: At the moment I’m in contact with Paris based artist Gabrielle Barouch. She makes beautiful, sweet and poetic illustrations and I am very excited about what comes out of it. I also love the Italian artist Maurizio Anzeri whose work is a mix of embroidery and photography. It is truly amazing what he does... Another favourite artist, who I first noticed while living in London, is Julie Verhoeven. I’m sure kids would enjoy the magic of her colourful illustrations.
5 What is so fascinating about children's wear?
Barbara: Most of all it's the “freedom” that goes with designing kids fashion. I usually follow my intuition without worrying too much about was is “in” at the moment. It is a world of unlimited creativity.
Tine: I love that you create small magic and a playful universe for the kids.
6 Do you have children yourself?
Tine: Yes. I have a girl, Ida (6 y) and a boy, Norman (9 y).
Barbara: Almost the same here; I have a girl Nola at 6y and a boy at 8y, Siggi.
7 How fashion-oriented are they?
Tine: They are quite "fashion aware..." and are very much interested in colours,... which animals to select for next Soft Gallery season and combining outfits in the morning with matching colours. Its quite fun listening to, and it makes it all worthwhile when they are enthusiastic towards my work, when they feel proud and interested and pay attention to details...
Barbara: In general I think they are quite cool and relaxed about it. Siggi likes it simple and most often black. Ones in a while he will come to us and ask for something very specific - like a certain kind of jacket or a cap. Nola loves the feminine and girly style… and can sometimes be very precise with what she wants to wear. She often does drawings that she thinks would suit into the universe of Soft Gallery, especially she loves owls...
8 What was your favourite piece of clothing as a child?
Tine: My ballet and dance costumes... I did a lot of ballet, and I loved the soft tones of nude, light pink, purple and sometimes black.
Barbara: I remember in the 80s I had a Mickey Mouse Denim Jacket with pink soft lining...I just loved it...I actually wonder where it has gone... ;)
9 You have styles for girls, for women, and now more for boys. What about the men?
Both: We would love to do t-shirts for men as well. But for the moment we stay focused on the kids and women part.
10 Please complete this sentence: Soft Gallery is...
Both: ...artistic, poetic, exclusive children's wear.
www.softgallery.dk
Check the original interview: http://www.kidswear-department.com/index.php?id=52&tx_ttnews%5Btt_news%5D=1294&cHash=6a9f8b513001535f7ad71b09a843336c