Exclusive interview with GFW finalist Cindy Warsono

Interview by R.M. team, photography by Lin Vitali.

Note: The author's views are entirely his or her own and may not reflect the views of RetoxMagazine.com

Exclusive interview with Cindy M Warsono
LA SALLE College of the Arts Singapore
Graduate Fashion Week 2011

Retox Magazine: What was your inspiration behind this collection?

Cindy M Warsono: My collection is entitled "Out of Africa" and it was inspired by African art such as the texture of scarification tattoo and body paint on the body and hands, the beautiful craftsmanship of rugs and pottery and the shape of parallelogram, collectively combined with the casual street-style. To sum it up, my collection is an African journey with with influences of contemporary street fashion.

Retox Magazine: How would you describe your signature style?

Cindy M Warsono: I always portray a woman who is strong, cool and independent. This collection is therefore about cool women. The bulky and voluminous silhouettes are inspired by menswear, and this collection is a unisex collection. Furthermore, I love the combination of textiles and fashion and I believe that having detailing on your garment is what makes your garment different from others.

Cindy M Warsomo, LA SALLE College of the Arts Singapore, presents her collection at Graduate Fashion Week 2011.

Retox Magazine: Do you think your style will change in the future?

Cindy M Warsono: Hmm… I love fashion as in when I see the details and the materials itself and I always get excited about it. I will probably change the style one day but my identity of a strong woman will remain, as well as my passion… I like Stella McCartney, she has a feminine and a masculine side as well.

Retox Magazine: If you could have a dinner date with any fashion designer in the world, who would it be and why?

Cindy M Warsono: Alexander McQueen, although that is no longer possible… Then there is Riccardo Tisci. I think Riccardo is very smart and brilliant, his collections are always beautiful yet powerful. He seems nice too.

Retox Magazine: What was the most disastrous moment during the design and construction of your collection?

Cindy M Warsono: The most disastrous moment was when I suddenly needed to change and redesign a garment within a day. Normally one garment requires a full week to be successfully finished, complete with the entire smocking on the body – all handwork, so you can imagine!

Retox Magazine: When and why did you get into fashion?

Cindy M Warsono: I got into fashion when I started to play dress-up with my sister and started sketching when I was 13 years old.

Retox Magazine: What was the most fun part of studying fashion?

Cindy M Warsono: Fashion never gets boring. It is always changing, and it makes your brain work all the time. I loved researching for new inspirations, styles and materials. Seeing and discovering new thing is the most fun part in fashion.

Retox Magazine: Who would you like to see wear your clothes, celebrity-wise?

Cindy M Warsono: It depends on what style I will end up making in the future. In terms of my current collection, I would like to see Susie Bubble wearing my smocking sweater =)

Retox Magazine: What gets you through a tough day?

Cindy M Warsono: Of course, my family, who always support me in everything and my best friends who always cheer me up when I am down and HIM, who lent me his strength till today. I love them all very much.

Retox Magazine: If you were to design an outfit and call it 'Retox' what would it look like?

Cindy M Warsono: It would be EDGY, SEXY and BLACK! Yeah... I think it is Retox's identity, somehow...

Interview with Cindy M Warsono - LA SALLE College of the Arts Singapore,
exclusively for RetoxMagazine.com.