Hekne

LEGENDARY INTERVIEW

Design Legends ("DL") had the distinct honour to interview legendary designer Hekne ("Hekne") for their original perspective and innovative approach to design as well as their creative lifestyle, we are very pleased to share our interview with our distinguished readers.

DL: Could you please tell us a bit about your design background and education?

Hekne : In the last year of high school we had this long project that we worked on for a whole year parallel to all the other subjects. I chose to write about the history of the wedding dress, and for the practical part of the project I made a one. That was when I started to understand that fashion design could be a possible career choice. After one year of costume design in Norway I moved to London to do my BA in fashion design at Ravensbourne College. The second year of my BA I did at ESDi in Barcelona as an exchange student. This way I got the chance to experience both the crazy London creativity as well as the more commercial approach that they had in Spain. That was a great combination and helped my find my own personal path. I have also learnt a lot doing internships, in different countries and in different size companies. I have been very lucky to be an intern in companies that gave me a lot of freedom, challenges and support. That’s been very valuable.

DL: What motivates you to design in general, why did you become a designer?

Hekne : I always enjoyed working with my hands and being creative. Becoming a fashion designer has never been my childhood dream though, it was more like every other alternative slowly got eliminated the more I learnt… And when deciding to found Hekne together with my business partner and we established our brand and philosophy, it became clear that there’s absolutely nothing else that will make me more happy than being able to live from this. Designing for Hekne has not only allowed me to use my hands and creativity, but I can be a part of changing the fashion industry into become more sustainable. That makes my work very meaningful for myself personally.

DL: Did you choose to become a designer, or you were forced to become one?

Hekne : Becoming a designer was a choice I did only for myself and I’m very grateful for being so privileged that I’m able to make that choice.

DL: What do you design, what type of designs do you wish to design more of?

Hekne : I design womenswear, both knit and woven. It would be nice to see if we could expand to design also for men and children in the future.

DL: What should young designers do to become a design legend like you?

Hekne : Do internships and gather experience from as many fields of design as possible, follow your heart and allow yourself to use time finding your own path and voice.

DL: What makes a good design a really good design, how do you evaluate good design?

Hekne : When judging my own work for Hekne, I consider the most successful designs to be the ones that many people (including myself) find a love for, when the choice of materials prove to be great and the designs at the same time match the brand’s philosophy and signature look.

DL: What is the value of good design? Why should everyone invest in good design?

Hekne : Good design works better and lasts longer. If more people invested in good design, we would have a more sustainable world today.

DL: What is the dream project you haven’t yet had time to realize?

Hekne : My dream project is to expand Hekne’s portfolio to include more designs for a wider group of people. That’s a project that needs time and that I want to take time.

DL: What is your secret recipe of success in design, what is your secret ingredient?

Hekne : Finding a balance where you listen to other people and are open to feedback, without compromising your own core values.

DL: What is your greatest design, which aspects of that design makes you think it is great?

Hekne : My favourite design from what I've made so far is the Monteverde coat from Hekne's first collection. It was inspired in an old anorak that I bought second hand and that I liked a lot. I made a wool version of it, with a cleaner look, but kept the oversized anorak style. It was just perfect in the cold winter when living in Copenhagen, as it has lots of space for extra layers. It also had space enough for my pregnant belly and later on for carrying my baby boy in a baby wrap - no need to change winter coat! The fact that it’s so versatile and useful, and also because it’s made of durable materials that will last long, makes the coat a great design.

DL: How could people improve themselves to be better designers, what did you do?

Hekne : I definitely became a better designer gaining experience from different fields. Internships, jobs and studies all gave me new knowledge and challenges.

DL: If you hadn’t become a designer, what would you have done?

Hekne : I have no idea!

DL: How do you define design, what is design for you?

Hekne : Design to me is the whole process from choosing materials to approve the final product. It's also about using the voice and influence that you have as a designer to make a statement that you believe in yourself.

DL: Who helped you to reach these heights, who was your biggest supporter?

Hekne : My family.

DL: How does design help create a better society?

Hekne : As a designer you have a stronger voice than the consumer, and with that comes a great responsibility. You are a role model and you have to think carefully about every choice you make. By being aware of this and using your role wisely, designers can make a big difference in making a better society.

DL: What are you currently working on that you are especially excited about?

Hekne : That’s a secret!

DL: What would you like to see changed in design industry in the coming years?

Hekne : I hope we will get better at taking care of nature and the people that are involved in the production of our designs.

DL: When you have a new design project, where do you start?

Hekne : Every Hekne collection is inspired by the colours of a selected bird, so I always start with finding a match between available materials and a bird, in order to set the colour palette. I then gather ideas that I've collected and work on them until I arrive to a ready set of designs.

DL: What is the role of technology when you design?

Hekne : I love to use my hands and non technological tools, but the truth is that the part of the design process involving my computer takes up much more of my time.

DL: What kind of design software and equipment do you use in your work?

Hekne : I use the Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator and InDesign.

DL: What is the role of the color, materials and ambient in design?

Hekne : For us the colours, materials and ambient are the most important part of our visual concept. It’s all connected to the concept of birds and nature that binds our designs and brand together.

DL: What do you wish people to ask about your design?

Hekne : I get happy when people ask for more details regarding the fabrics and materials, as that’s something we put a lot of thought and work into.

DL: Who is your ideal design partner? Do you believe in co-design?

Hekne : Hekne was established by me and my childhood friend Siglinde. Even though she’s not a designer, she’s my ideal design partner as well as business partner. Everything that I do, is done together with her. As I want my designs to be used by many different people, it’s valuable to me to also share the design process with someone else.