We love raphaellehlimi

It's time to discover the 15 winners of the WSNBlog young designer contest. They seduced our professional jury, thanks to their original and creative universe as well as their passion for fashion. We wanted to learn more about them...

This week, meet RAPHAELLE HLIMI!


> How did you come upon the Who's Next Blog and its Young Designer contest?
I discovered it by Internet, I don't remember precisely but I know that I was thinking that it would be great to participate to this fair. So I decided to apply.



> What was your reaction when you found out you'd won?
I was really happy. It was a great honour to be selected among the other creative and international young designers.



> Can you briefly introduce yourself ?
I am a young womenswear designer based in Paris. I have studied in Paris at Duperré and in Brussels at La Cambre. I also did the post-graduate program in Fashion Creation at IFM, in Paris. After a lot of internships in important fashion companies (Dior, Martin Grant, Sharon Wauchob, Veronique Leroy), I worked for one year and half at Emilio Pucci in Italy and at Maje in Paris. After wining the “Grand Prix de la Creation de la Ville de Paris" in December 2010, I have decided to create my own company, which is my dream from the beginning.







> How did you start designing clothes? Is it something you’ve always wanted to do ?
When I was 14, I visited an atelier of a "parisian couturière" fulled with fabrics, colors and stockmans. Since then, I knew that was my dream job. I've started designing and sketching at 17 years old, mixing inspirations from my passion for art and from fashion pictures in Vogue...



> What are your sources of inspiration ?
I am inspired by teenagers attitude (Juergen Teller or Patti Smith), by female artists ( Louise Bourgois, Annette Messager, Sophie Calle...) and by textile design. I really need to feed my appetite for curiosity with art, music and creation of all sorts. I am also fascinated by geometry in volumes and prints. Creation is a necessity.







> Fashion, what for ?
To make the dream come true and watch it walking in the street.



> Which artists would you like to make discover with the readers ?
The photographer Tim Walker with his dreamy universe







the artist Nick Cave with his soundsuits...





Closer to me, you can discover my photographers friends Ramzy Bentrad and Alain Delorme.






And my brother Nathaniel H'limi who is a pluridisciplinar artist (illustration, graphist, filmmaker...)




> Your news ? Your projects ?
Developing my company, working on my new Spring Summer 2012 Collection with an handcrafted part and a jewellery part more important.



> Your favourite adresses in your city ?
I love Merci, 104 boulevard Beaumarchais. I love le Comptoir General (80, quai de Jemmapes) , I love Nanashi (31, rue du paradis). I love le 104 (104, rue d'aubervilliers).










> The one question you’d like to be asked ?
Anything in Italian



> Favorite drink?
Strawberry Caipirinha. Pink, fresh and sweet…



> Describe a successful evening/night ?
Friends, Music, Dance, and Sleep.



> The thing more the nutcase whom you did see ?
Some outfits of the second year in the fashion show at la Cambre, in Brussels. Completely stunning...



> Your last concert ?
Tune Yards, au Café de la Danse




> Your last exhibition ?
Madame Grès, at the musée Bourdelle




> A motto ?
Stop waiting for things to happen, go out and make them happen !



> One last word ?
A bientôt !

 
raphaellehlimi.com