In a room filled to the brim, one of the most well-known fashion designers was talking about his beginnings, passions and fashion in Poland and around the world.
His first model was a Barbie doll – a woman with ideal body proportions, for whom Maciej Zien made new creations.
At the age of 16, in Paris Maciej Zien started his adventure with fashion. That’s when he discovered the first collection of Jean-Paul Gaultie – a French fashion designer – and decided to catch up with him. Obviously, he achieved success and at the age of 17 he presented his first collection ‘Provocations’ at the fashion show in Lublin. As he claims “Since then, I just keep floating…”
Maciej Zien presents 2 new collections every year, and in each collection he spends about 6 months of work. Each show attracts about a thousand guests.
In Poland, Zien promotes fashion through shock and amazement. The latest show in Warsaw was held in a church which aroused much controversy: “It isn’t shocking for me but Poland is not open yet. It’s easy to cause a scandal in Poland, we’ve lost a lot of time and we have a lot of things to catch up with” – said Zien.
The designer actively takes part in bringing Poland into 21st century fashion by dramatising his shows, broadcasting them through the Internet, and creating unusual shows, for example putting a Birch forest and pond at the fashion show in Torwar Hall in Warsaw in 2010. Apart from trees and leaves, people could also see falling snow.
Zien uses modern, breathing fabrics mainly from Italy, France and Japan. He cooperates with young, talented Poles. He likes creating and experimenting and also called his studio ‘Laboratory’ .
He believes that fashion has to be both beautiful and comfortable. Now, he is working on casual weekend looks, especially on elegant tracksuit.
When asked what fashion is for him, he answered without hesitation – “It’s the biggest passion of my life! Fashion is an entertainment, I play with it!”
Now, 14 years after his first fashion show, he isn’t only toying with an idea but he is planning to open a boutique in the capital of fashion, and we wish him luck!
Official website: Maciej Zien
Photos © Marcin Palicki/Zoom