Oberwanger on her way into the big fashion business
Last year, she completed her Master's degree at the Royal Academy of Fine Arts Antwerp (considered one of the best in the world) and has already won several awards for her collections. As an antidote to this often tough industry, she enjoys spending time out with family and friends in her home town of Oberwang. We asked Raffaela a few questions about her life between the catwalk and country life.
When did you develop your talent for fashion design and why did you end up in Antwerp?
I have always been interested in clothing, fabrics, patterns, colour combinations and later also in the cut and concepts behind collections. After graduating from HBLA Lentia in Linz, a more technical fashion school, I wanted to gain more practical experience. At Ute Ploier in Vienna, I was able to gain a good insight into how a small fashion label works. It was there that I first heard about the fashion academy in Antwerp, which seemed fantastic and unapproachable at the same time. A very instructive internship with Tim van Steenbergen in Antwerp followed, I then passed the entrance exam at the academy in Antwerp and shortly before starting school I was drawn to New York for another internship at "Ohne Titel".
What awards have you already received for your collections?
The FFI Award from the Flanders Fashion Institute, the Tim van Laere Gallery Award and the Academy Award from the Royal Academy of Fine Arts Antwerp for my master's collection. For my Bachelor's collection I received the Austrian Fashion Award, 13 festival for fashion and photography, and the Christine Mathys Award, by Dries van Noten, Antwerp.
On which catwalks around the world has your label already been shown?
At our annual show at the Academy, as I only completed my Master's degree last year.
Where and what are you currently working on?
I've been in Stockholm since October and am doing an internship at Acne Studios for six months.
I have a few private projects in my head that I want to work on, but I'm not planning another collection for now.
In layman's terms, how would you describe your fashion and its style?
I am interested in unusual colour combinations, new fabric treatments, detailed knits, leatherwork and interesting finishes. In general, I would describe my style as playful, somewhat feminine, modern and colourful, rather simple/elegant/casual in cut.
What is special about your job for you and what is not so great about it?
In general, the fashion industry is a pretty tough industry, it is very demanding and you can feel a big rush of fashion students fighting for a job or just an internship under any conditions.
But I'm very passionate and enthusiastic about everything I do and I think the creativity and the wide range of activities I can do in this job is something I'm unlikely to find in almost any other field - and I really appreciate that.
Is it a job with a more organised routine or does a lot just "happen" here?
That depends mainly on the company you work for. If it's well organised, everything runs very smoothly. But in general, it always gets stressful at the end of the season so that everything is ready for the show.
How often do you come home? And when you are in Oberwang, what do you love most there or in your home country, Austria ....?
I come home about three times a year. In summer for a swim, to play with my nephew and to go mountain climbing with grandma and grandad. At Christmas - there's noodle soup with sausages and lots of biscuits, snowboarding and family celebrations. And at Easter - for eggs, family get-togethers and drinks with the Mondsee girls.
What are your plans, what is your biggest dream?
Ideally, I'd like to do an internship in New York soon and then get a job at Marni, Celine or Acne Studios, working on my own projects if possible.
written by Andrea Vitzthum
Service
Tourism association Mondsee-IrrseeDr. Franz Müller Str. 3
5310 Mondsee
Phone +43 6232 2270
Fax machine +43 6232 2270-22
E-Mail info@mondsee.at
Web mondsee.salzkammergut.at/en
