Polish-born mixed media artist specializing in unique hand-painted fabrics and avant-garde theatrical costumes, which is his main passion, separated from commercial activities (the design and production of jackets).
A proud member of the fashion industry, I became relatively late and by pure coincidence. After seeing one alternative fashion show with a friend artist, we have created an art collective. We were trying to attract an audience, so we wanted to invite fashion designers to showcase during our experimental events. Unfortunately, at the time, nobody wanted to cooperate with us, so our first fashion show was with my hand-painted t-shirts and dresses. It started my exciting journey with all the steps of fashion. For example, I was a host (including projects in the Embassy of Poland and the Embassy of Tanzania), backstage manager, fashion designer, even make-up artist, and body painter. Let's say, I was an adventure seeker. Even after graduating with a degree in fashion design, which I decided to pursue long after my participation in Fashion Scout or being published in Vogue magazine, I try to stick to my chaotic, unrealistic vision of fashion, which brings me nothing except personal satisfaction.
I think fashion is the highest level of art, where the catwalk show combines elements of the theatre in which actors are models who are moving on the stage as living sculptures. And there is always music in the background.
Erwin Michalec - Graduate of:
London College of Contemporary Arts - Higher National Certificate - Art & Design (Fashion & Textiles).
Barnfield College Luton - Art & Design ( Fashion Pathways) Higher National Diploma (Distinctions) Specialization: menswear.
Kingston College - Art & Design - (Top Up BA (Hons) Upper Second Class - Kingston University).
The University of Law - LLM - International Arbitration - education in progress.
Fashion Shows/ Presentations
With Alexandra Shulman - Editor-in-Chief of British Vogue. Ististuto Marangoni London
As Seen in Vogue, Erwin Michalec’s designs have a mixed media of ethnic influences. He is fascinated with Haitian Voodoo and the strong connection between Polish and Haitian. Inspired by the Caribbean and African Culture has become a signature element throughout his collections.
Erwin does not use any digital processing throughout the development of his designs for individual clients and all his art and fashion shows:
- The clothing is painted by hand
- Every design is different and as unique as possible
- There are not any printed works on any of his dresses presented on the catwalks.
- It is real paint which is directly applied to the fabric
Creating this kind of fashion is very laborious. These techniques have gained success for Erwin as he gained second place in the Radical Designer Award.
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