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Rick OwensClothes designer
Country:
 USA |
Content:
- Biography of Rick Owens
- Early Life and Education
- Career in Fashion
- Unique Design Philosophy
- Personal Life and Awards
Biography of Rick Owens
IntroductionRick Owens, known for his unique style and avant-garde designs, is a renowned fashion designer. He has gained recognition in the fashion world as one of the brightest proponents of the 'glunge' style (glamour meets grunge). Owens describes his approach to creating clothing as similar to how Lou Reed creates music, with subtle changes in chords. His ability to blend light and dark, hard and soft, has made him a cult figure among fans and critics who eagerly await his collections.
Early Life and Education
Richard Saturino Owens, better known as Rick Owens, was born in Porterville, California. His ancestry includes Apache Native American tribes, which significantly influenced Owens' vision. After studying design at the Otis College of Art and Design in Los Angeles for two years, he dropped out and shifted his focus to fashion production. Owens attended courses in pattern making and sewing at the Los Angeles Trade-Technical College, choosing the garment industry as his new direction.
Career in Fashion
In 1994, Owens opened his own label, simply named 'Rick Owens'. His business caught the attention of Charles Gallay, an innovative retailer from Los Angeles, who helped Owens keep his business afloat for several years. After transitioning to work in Europe, Owens moved from Los Angeles to Paris, where he started participating in fashion shows. He began collaborating with stylist Panos Yiapanis, with whom he continues to work on all of his runway shows.
Since 2005, Owens' creations have gained significant popularity. His talent was recognized by local dealer Philippe Jousse, and Owens worked under contract with the 'Carpenters Workshop Gallery'. In 2010, he presented his first furniture collection, designed by himself, in an exhibition named 'Prehistoric' at the Carpenters Workshop Gallery in London. The collection consisted of seven monumental totem-like pieces, inspired by the prehistoric era. The color palette ranged from white to black, and materials such as marble, petrified wood, and alabaster were used.
Unique Design Philosophy
Owens continuously draws inspiration from his relationship with his wife and muse, Michele Lamy. He gives new meaning to the idea of functionality through monumental minimalism reflected in his unique creations. Despite their apparent simplicity, each piece of furniture hides complexity resulting from the choice of rare and heavy materials.
Owens' furniture speaks the language of contrasts. He spends a significant amount of time achieving a balance between ideas born from juxtapositions when making decisions about future forms and materials. Owens explains, "It's really about combining polarities. There are everyday materials like plywood that are used for many pieces, but then there are also rare and luxurious things like alabaster."
He emphasizes that this mixture is reflective of society, stating, "It's like the world around us. It's a combination of high and low. If you have too much of just one thing, it can become unbearable, but you have to appreciate both. It's all about balance."
Personal Life and Awards
Rick Owens met his future wife, Michele Lamy, through a mutual friend, Rick Castro. The couple has been living in Paris since 2003.
Owens' talent has been recognized and celebrated with numerous awards. In 2002, he received an award from the Council of Fashion Designers of America. In 2007, he was honored with the National Design Award from the Cooper Hewitt Smithsonian Design Museum and the 'Rule Breaking' award from the Fashion Group International, an organization promoting fashion designers.
