Faustine Steinmetz, the Parisian designer who now works out of her East London studio, has quickly gained a cult following for her handwoven, conceptual clothing. (We'd never heard of "mock-blue denim" until Faustine came along.) So, in celebration of our newly-opened Opening Ceremony Shoreditch location, where you can find her couture-like collection, we asked the NEWGEN designer to share a typical day in Whitechapel. Watch out—cute Pom GIF ahead.
6:30 AM: I'm up and out the door for my morning run in the park. I find it is the only way that I don't feel tired all day with having such a crazy schedule. Once I've got back from my run, I grab something quick to eat before me and my dogs walk to the studio. I live ten minutes away, but it usually takes twice as long as it should because Buzz makes us stop every five meters so he can mark his territory! (See Buzz's GIF to the left.)
8:00 AM: When I feel like we need a pick-me-up, I pass by Rinkoffs to get them some treats! RINKOFFS is this old, family-run bakery hidden in the middle of a council estate in Whitechapel. They are really lovely people and they bake the biggest cakes you have ever seen. One day, we bought a birthday cake from one of the girls and it took eight of us—and a week!—to finally finish it.
9:00 AM: This is when everyone arrives in the studio, and we sit down to talk about what we need to get done that day. Right now, we are in the middle of making the new pieces for our Spring/Summer 2015 collection, so most of our talk is related to that. Once we have finished the meeting somebody chooses the music and we get to work (we love Christine and the Queens).
10:00 AM: Emails!
1:00 PM: I really like to try get out of the studio at lunch time with my diary and my studio manager. I tell him all my worries about planning and time, and the conversation always finishes with, "just take care of the design, make sure you do something amazing and I'll take care of all the rest." It's also quite helpful that he can be bribed to do anything with food.
When I do get to get out of the studio to eat, I like to go to a new burger place which has just opened in Whitechapel called Dirty Burger. The menu is sharp, the beers amazing and the people there are always really nice and smiley which is always a surprise for me being Parisian (no it is not a cliche, our waiters do not know how to smile!). They do an amazing grilled chicken and the best butter lettuce & avocado salad.
2:00 PM: After lunch, I can focus on the next collection and start weaving some samples on a loom. It is definitely my favorite part of the whole process. The best part is that Buzz loves to come on the table and fall asleep on the loom.
5:00 PM: I take a look at everything everyone has done for the day and try to get them to go home. You'd be surprised to see how much time it usually takes me to convince them!
6:30 AM: I'm up and out the door for my morning run in the park. I find it is the only way that I don't feel tired all day with having such a crazy schedule. Once I've got back from my run, I grab something quick to eat before me and my dogs walk to the studio. I live ten minutes away, but it usually takes twice as long as it should because Buzz makes us stop every five meters so he can mark his territory! (See Buzz's GIF to the left.)
8:00 AM: When I feel like we need a pick-me-up, I pass by Rinkoffs to get them some treats! RINKOFFS is this old, family-run bakery hidden in the middle of a council estate in Whitechapel. They are really lovely people and they bake the biggest cakes you have ever seen. One day, we bought a birthday cake from one of the girls and it took eight of us—and a week!—to finally finish it.
9:00 AM: This is when everyone arrives in the studio, and we sit down to talk about what we need to get done that day. Right now, we are in the middle of making the new pieces for our Spring/Summer 2015 collection, so most of our talk is related to that. Once we have finished the meeting somebody chooses the music and we get to work (we love Christine and the Queens).
10:00 AM: Emails!
1:00 PM: I really like to try get out of the studio at lunch time with my diary and my studio manager. I tell him all my worries about planning and time, and the conversation always finishes with, "just take care of the design, make sure you do something amazing and I'll take care of all the rest." It's also quite helpful that he can be bribed to do anything with food.
When I do get to get out of the studio to eat, I like to go to a new burger place which has just opened in Whitechapel called Dirty Burger. The menu is sharp, the beers amazing and the people there are always really nice and smiley which is always a surprise for me being Parisian (no it is not a cliche, our waiters do not know how to smile!). They do an amazing grilled chicken and the best butter lettuce & avocado salad.
2:00 PM: After lunch, I can focus on the next collection and start weaving some samples on a loom. It is definitely my favorite part of the whole process. The best part is that Buzz loves to come on the table and fall asleep on the loom.
5:00 PM: I take a look at everything everyone has done for the day and try to get them to go home. You'd be surprised to see how much time it usually takes me to convince them!