While there has been a lot of talk in the fashion community about the pressure to produce, designer Rick Owens is one creative who isn’t complaining. Interviewed by WWD while in Bologna, Italy, where his line is produced, Owens said, “I’m working on men’s runway and starting women’s spring. I love the stimulation. It keeps you on your toes, like boxing. You have to keep your eyes open all around you.”
He also has found a trick to add more hours to the day. “I have two mornings. I get up early and have my meetings, and then I’m sort of emptied out, so I go take a nap. Then I wake up and start my work day again at 6 p.m,” he explained.
Part of what Owens is juggling is a furniture exhibit, which will open at the Museum of Contemporary Art aka MOCA in Los Angeles on December 17th. (Yes, that was the same show that Kanye West popped up at last week.)
Owens’ creative partner and wife, Michèle Lamyfor, is another reason he can accomplish as much as he does. In the case of the exhibit, Owens came up with the drawing for the exhibit, titled “Rick Owens Furniture,” and then handed off the project to Lamyfor, who Owens credited for adding the special sauce. “I don’t overestimate my creativity at all. Ninety-five percent is the execution. In this case it is very much about her energy. She’s a magical fairy witch who needs to go out there and connect with people, fight with them, throw her jewelry at them,” he said.
The designer said he would also leave the opening to his wife. “I want her to enjoy all of this on her terms. I’ve got a shitload of things to do over here, and socializing would be this distraction. I have to be forced to come to New York and L.A. because there is a social kind of hysteria there that is not my comfort zone. But I’m not shy.” And sweetly added, “I like her summaries better than experiencing it myself.”
