Paris-based designer Kevin Germanier is known for redefining sustainable fashion by using only upcycled materials. Here, he reveals how a six-month stint in Hong Kong shaped his creative process
The fashion industry gets a bad rap for wasting materials by the tonne, a pressing issue that 27-year-old Kevin Germanier is tackling head on. The Swiss-born, Paris-based designer creates high-octane, unapologetically glamorous dresses and separates—all of which are made entirely from materials that otherwise would have been discarded.
Germanier’s pieces are worn by celebrities such as Lady Gaga, Björk and K-pop sensation Sunmi—helping to push his particular brand of luxe sustainability into the spotlight and proving there’s far more to eco-friendly fashion than organic linen.
How did you get into fashion?
I grew up in Switzerland in a rather traditional family. It was a very controlled environment where everything looked perfect. I started my schooling in fashion at Geneva School of Art and Design and, unbeknown to my parents, I applied to Central Saint Martins when I was 20.
It was after seven rounds of interviews that I was finally accepted. I looked up to a lot of designers that came from the school, such as John Galliano, Riccardo Tisci, Stella McCartney and Mary Katrantzou, so I was ecstatic. My parents were upset at first when I told them, but they let me go under the condition I would finance my studies there.