╳ Definitely never boring, playfulness is an important part of Bea Szenfeld’s design vocabulary, and since launching her first prêt-a-porter collection, after an internship at Stella McCartney she has been an active designer. Known for fine detailing (God is in the details) Ms Szenfeld believes a piece of clothing, bearing her name, should be as beautiful on the inside as well as the outside.
╳ Born in Poland, 1972 she moved to Sweden, studying first at Cutters Academy before eventually attending the prestigious Beckmans School of Design in Stockholm, and first garnered media attention in 2003 when participating in the reality television show ‘Fashion House’, a Project Runway-esque design show. As one of 5 Swedish finalists she spent two months in Rome, competing with other designers from across Europe, to secure a three-month internship at Stella McCartney while cameras looked on. Emerging as the winner, Szenfeld commenced her placement in London, which she ended up extending to eight months before returning to her adopted homeland of Sweden.
╳ Aside from her own line Bea Szenfeld she also has another line Bea Szenfeld Vintage where she reconstructs vintage clothing. Her most recent collection ‘Sur la Plage’ evokes imagery of the other-worldly creatures you could possibly encounter should you ever journey to the mythical lost city of Atlantis. Inspired predominantly by bathing suits, the ocean and the vast array of mythology associated with it; ironically the entire collection is handmade out of paper. Shying away from utilising any laser-cutting or machines Szenfeld relies on more simplistic tools like knives and glue. The key appeal to Szenfeld for utilising paper is its fragility, which when you consider the sea is a key source of inspiration for her it seems to inadvertently reflect its temprementality and vulnerability as a natural resource. 1950’s burlesque also acted as a point of inspiration and is illustrated in the structure of the designs while tribalism, architecture and religious iconography also act as points of reference.
╳ Born in Poland, 1972 she moved to Sweden, studying first at Cutters Academy before eventually attending the prestigious Beckmans School of Design in Stockholm, and first garnered media attention in 2003 when participating in the reality television show ‘Fashion House’, a Project Runway-esque design show. As one of 5 Swedish finalists she spent two months in Rome, competing with other designers from across Europe, to secure a three-month internship at Stella McCartney while cameras looked on. Emerging as the winner, Szenfeld commenced her placement in London, which she ended up extending to eight months before returning to her adopted homeland of Sweden.
╳ Aside from her own line Bea Szenfeld she also has another line Bea Szenfeld Vintage where she reconstructs vintage clothing. Her most recent collection ‘Sur la Plage’ evokes imagery of the other-worldly creatures you could possibly encounter should you ever journey to the mythical lost city of Atlantis. Inspired predominantly by bathing suits, the ocean and the vast array of mythology associated with it; ironically the entire collection is handmade out of paper. Shying away from utilising any laser-cutting or machines Szenfeld relies on more simplistic tools like knives and glue. The key appeal to Szenfeld for utilising paper is its fragility, which when you consider the sea is a key source of inspiration for her it seems to inadvertently reflect its temprementality and vulnerability as a natural resource. 1950’s burlesque also acted as a point of inspiration and is illustrated in the structure of the designs while tribalism, architecture and religious iconography also act as points of reference.╳ With an armour-like structure, Szenfeld is undoubtedly re-evaluating how we tend to look at paper as a delicate and disposable object.
