“Anything that disrupts is beautiful”

Your shows are known for their diverse casting. What does beauty mean to you?

I think everything that disrupts the supposed order is beautiful. Scars and hereditary imperfections, for example. You could almost say that my ideal of beauty is the opposite of the conventional one.

Hairstyles are an important part of the looks on display at your shows.

Everything to do with the face is a question of communication. That’s why I put a great deal of emphasis on hairstyles.

Your collection for spring and summer 2022 also featured a bald female model.

A cousin of mine had the same experience as this model. He lost all his hair at 15, and his self-confidence was very low at times. And yet it’s perfectly okay to look different. That’s what I wanted to express.

Are beards an issue in casting?

I have an open mind on that issue. We’ve had models with huge beards – and some without.

Do beards signify anything in fashion?

Yes, like hairstyles, beards can be a mark of authority. My brother, for example, sports a red Viking full beard. It makes him look like a cross between a priest and a Hells Angel. Now that he’s going a little grey, the priest is winning out.

Do you have a morning ritual, or indeed a beauty ritual?

I only use water – and a special cream for dry skin.

And beard care?

It has to be quick – as does getting dressed. I own two sweatshirts, two overalls and two pairs of shoes. I found the second pair here in the studio just now.

This interview has first been published in the fall 2021 print edition of 30 Grad.