NM: “When I decided to create Dead Lotus Couture, my main idea was to create a brand that could really represent me, in terms of art/style/visuals. It’s a way to communicate and share my art and ideas with the world.
“All DLC’s look is inspired by styles, movies, artistic movements, eras I always liked; it’s just trying to find Nange’s essence, hihi!”
‘My main idea for Dead Lotus Couture was to create a brand that could really represent me, in terms of art/style/visuals. It’s a way to communicate and share my art and ideas with the world’
TM: One of your most striking images is a girl in a white/red outfit with two snakes at her neck (currently being used for TG’s April Ball flyer). Another is a black-latex-clad, half-girl-half-octopus image. Do you have a thing for serpents and/or tentacles?
NM: “Both images and ideas come from different places. For the snake, I had the concept popping out in my head straight away after checking the pictures from the shoot.
“The octopus picture was an idea that came up between my partner (who creates all the CG artworks in our photo-shoots), the model and myself.
“I do have to say I always loved reptiles and sea creatures, especially those with tentacles, so I guess it all came up naturally too.”
TM:You’ve also created a series of vintage film poster-type images, complete with stylised graphic text-lines, to show off some Dead Lotus Couture designs. What inspired you to adopt that particular style?
NM: “For that particular series of images I wanted to find an idea to introduce the new label Dead Lotus Couture to people.
“I needed to find something that could attract curiosity and at the same time be recognisable, so I thought a movie poster look would be the best solution.”
TM: All this obviously helps you to create a distinctive look for your brand on the web. But what about the garments themselves? What is it about your work that would hopefully distinguish it from other latex labels for someone, say, visiting the Dead Lotus Couture stand at Le Boutique Bazaar or watching one of your fashion shows?
NM: “I think that DLC has a particular look recognisable in the clothing itself, and that people can remember and distinguish it from other brands.
“I guess it’s also because I tend never to look at what other designers do, so I’m not influenced by them, to better conserve the Dead Lotus Couture identity.
“I am also very picky about quality and making, in the complete process from pattern to finishing, and people can notice that straight away.”
TM: You have a busy fashion-show schedule over the next month, starting with this weekend’s Dominatrix party, which is your first show outside the UK.
NM: “It is indeed, and I am both excited and scared about it at the same time!”
TM: What attracted you to this Dutch event as the venue for the European debut of Dead Lotus Couture?
NM: “I am quite an outsider and always living in my own bubble, so unfortunately I’m not always aware of events and shows happening around.
“So I usually have situations like with Dominatrix, where the beautiful Nina de Lianin [previous Dominatrix MC] recommended the event to me, so I contacted the organiser.”
TM: After Dominatrix, you have two London shows in April: The Fetishistas show at the Festival of Sins relaunch on April 4, then your second TG show at Electrowerkz on the 10th. Can you give a little hint of what the London crowd might expect to see at these two events?
NM: “Both shows will be quite different even if they are both part of the same universe. The FoS show will explore the same collection (Maligna) under a more vintage light, while the TG show will have a more theatrical feeling to it.
‘Both London shows in April will be quite different. The FoS show will explore the same collection (Maligna) under a more vintage light, while the TG show will have a more theatrical feeling to it’
“Both shows will display different pieces and outfits so as not to disappoint the audience, but all pieces are part of the same Dead Lotus Couture collection.”
TM: How do you see the potential for latex fashion? Do you think it will continue to expand into the mainstream, or is its popularity strictly cyclical, and we happen to be at (or near) the top of another cycle at the moment?
NM: “I believe all fashion is always cyclical but fortunately the latex niche will always exist.”
TM: Finally, do you regard yourself as a fetishist, a fashionista who likes latex, or something else?
NM: “I like to think of myself as just a hybrid artist. I have always been afraid of finding myself in a label.”
March 12, 2015
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