Interview with designer Philippe Plain - a new, very bright star of German design, the head of the same name, the company he created

Passing the gallery

Materials prepared: Dilara Muradova

Magazine: N1 (79) 2004

If you want to be sure that everything will be done correctly, do everything yourself. This truth is confessed by the designer Philip Plein, the head of the company of the same name, created by him as a company, and a new, very bright star of German design. It is possible to judge how fair such an attitude is in the fact that things with its logo are successfully sold in more than 60 countries of the world, one of which is Russia ...SALON: How old are you? - Between 20 and 30.S: Or rather? - Somewhere around 25.S: Why did you become a designer? - I was not going to become one. Moreover, imagine never studied design. I enrolled in the Law School in order to work in the field of economics after finishing it. And then ... Then I made a chair for my dog ​​...S: AND?.. - It liked my friends. I had to make the same chairs for their dogs. Then came the idea to sell them. We tried: in the first year they were bought in 60 countries of the world. This chair is even the dog Antonio Banderas. It was a real success! Thus began our collection ...S: Most designers in your place would offer their idea to some furniture manufacturer ... - Yes. But I'm not a designer. I have to be sure that everything will be as I need it.S: Everything's under control? - Yes.S: You think it will always be like this? “Maybe someday I'll wake up and find out that I need someone else.” Although in this case, in my opinion, the integrity of the style of Philipp Plein will be lost. But now I am young and greedy: I ​​have a huge number of ideas that I want to implement. I want to do something that no one else has done. I'm interested.S: Over 5 years of existence, your company has become very famous. What do you think, why? - I think most furniture designers are not used to being creative. They do not keep up with fashion. We are trying to follow her. Those things that you see in our collection are pillows with crystal from SWAROVSKI, crocodile-embossed leather is relevant now and in fashion too: look at the latest collections Fendi, Gucci ... In fashion, a name is very important. The furniture business today is also developing in this direction: stars, promoters, designers strive to be brands ...S: You too? - I know what's really behind this. Do you understand what I'm talking about? People do not care about the design, they are worried about the labels, they are not buying things, but a lifestyle. Look at Gucci. They sell everything, even toothbrushes. So you pay for the name.S: And when people come to you - for what they pay? - I hope they pay for the thing. My name is not yet so well known.S: When your name becomes very famous, will you take money for it? - I do not think so. This is not my philosophy.S: What is yours? - First: time changes, and we change with it. Second: the main thing in things - elegance and simplicity.S: You talk a lot about fashion. Did you ever think of becoming a couturier? - fashion, although making furniture, in my opinion, is more interesting. But fashion takes hard newbies: too much competition, too much money.S: Is the furniture market more free, in your opinion? - Compared to the fashionable, it is much easier. Otherwise I would not be here.S: And in the future, if you ever have such an opportunity, will you be in fashion? - Why not. Wait and see.