office called the designer to find out. Read our interview and watch the S/S ‘19 fashion film, premiering below.
How long have you been designing for? Was it something you always knew you wanted to do?
I have been designing a clothing label now for six years. I started with a label before this called Ammerman Schlösberg that I did when I graduated Parsons, but I always knew that I wanted to be a designer. My parents have this super embarrassing home video from my fifth grade graduation. When they would call each kid to come up and get their diploma they would say what that kid wanted to do or be when he got older and, of course, everyone was like a veterinarian or doctor, but mine was to be Gucci’s biggest competitor.
Where can I see this video?
Oh my god, I wish. My parents have it on this old ass VHS that barely even works.
How has your style evolved since then—or, at least, over the span of your career?
It's definitely changed a lot. I think coming out of a school and jumping into a partnership was, of course, amazing and I had the greatest time creating these things that were fun and fantastical. I was young and there were less consequences when I wasn't making enough money. It was just a different thing. But since I decided to go solo, finding my own voice was something that definitely took its time. After years of collaborating, you kind of learn to work in a way that works for both people. So, doing it alone definitely kind of evolves your own style.
You have full control.
Yeah, and finding the confidence in that control was the biggest thing. I always knew what I liked, but when you're in a partnership you have to compromise. So, being confident in what I thought I wanted was the hardest thing to learn, but I'm so glad that I feel like I’m finally there.
You're ‘About’ page on your website is amazing. It says: ‘Eric Schlösberg makes clothes for hot bitches.’ Is that all we need to know about your label?
Honestly, yeah. I make clothes for confident people that want to feel hot. And when I think about ‘About’ pages, it's good background to have but it’s not that important. It's just one sentence: ‘I make clothes for hot bitches.’ That's all you need to know. Hot is a mindset, it's an attitude—it's not necessarily anything physical. Hot is confidence—being brave enough to strut around in whatever makes them feel good. That’s hot.
So, making clothes for hot bitches—what does that process look like?
It always starts with a song. I like to walk around the city by myself with my music on and my phone on shuffle. I'll just listen to music and walk for hours until the right song comes on. Normally, I know it's the right song because I’ll start to see the final images. Like, the final image of my lookbook is the girl squatting on the floor over a shattered watermelon licking the juice off her fingers. That image popped into my mind immediately and everything kind of came from that, which came from the music. Once I see that in my head is when I start drawing. It's definitely a solitary activity. I like to be alone.
What was the song for this season?
Yes! It was “Chun-Li” by Nicki Minaj.
