Hogeschool Antwerpen-Grad Six Lee on Supermenswear.

Following the superb Artesis Hogeschool Antwerpen showing I mentioned I hadn’t quite finished my full appreciation of innovative designer Six Lee and I do my darndest to keep promises. Thus, please find below a discussion on film, Hedi Slimane and other bringers of happiness for your perusal. Nothing on goats, though, unfortunately.

1. How did you get into designing menswear/What is your design experience?

I remember when I was in the first year in school, we had to design a skirt, dress and jacket, and some other project which allowed us to choose to design menswear or womenswear, I got really stuck with womenswear. So I just continued to design menswear until now. The thing is I really can’t handle womenswear well.

2. How do you define your design aesthetic?

Um… I would say cute, playful, innocent but sophisticated at the same time. My aim is really to go for elegant haha! I don’t know why every time when I make something, the first reaction from people is “Oh it looks cute, it’s sweet!” and I was thinking “Oops, this time I’m going for elegant?!”.

3. What inspired your latest collection which fused musical instruments with garments?

My collection is inspired by two movies. The first is called A Man Who Was Superman. The movie tells the story of a man who accidentally received a bullet in the head when he was young, but didn’t die because of it. This made him think he was a superman with super powers, who of course wouldn’t get killed by a bullet. Living in a world of his own, he still saw it as his mission to save or help other people even if, because of the bullet, he lost his super powers. So to me he’s someone with a good heart. In the end however, he dies in an accident while saving other people.

The second movie is called The Legend of 1900. The protagonist in this movie is a man who was born in a boat and never left it in his entire life. He found that the most interesting thing in the boat is the piano. He learnt that by himself, in that time, the boat was for the people who want to go to America to start their new life. He played the piano not only in the high society room, but also for lower class people. He carried a good heart and used music to bring the people a new hope for new life and a new beginning.

My collection started from this point – I created a group of boys who have their own world and their own imagination. They were crazy, lonely but carried good hearts and helped the other people, brought peace and joy to the stranger. They enjoyed being alone, but at the same time they’re not isolated. The way to bring joy and peace to the other people is through making music.
I believe sounds, musical instruments, supermen, interaction and transformation are the main elements of my collection and I used all these elements to inspire my collection. I put classical musical instuments with the classical jacket. According to ‘superman theory’ I created the nerdy feeling for the boys when they wear the jacket – they can make some sounds with the jacket. The jackets are simple classic, made of wool and classical men’s suiting fabrics.

4. Do you have a favourite menswear designer? If yes, who?

Personally, I’m still attached to Hedi Slimane.

5. What’s next for Six Lee? Any projects in the near future?

I am trying to find a job, for sure, but still don’t know exactly where I’m heading. And at the same time, I just want to take some time to relax a bit and enjoy life.