Stepanka Pivcova
The designer of women collection Horsefeathers

The old truth says women take precedence, even if the world is taken as men’s world and it should stand twice in board sport industry. In first part of our new column BEHIND THE SCENES, in which we consecutively introduce you Horsefeathers team members , we put Stepanka Pivcova, the designer of women collection, into an imaginary confession booth. She became a team member in October 2009. You could see results of her work as collection Spring 2011 for the first time.

 

Recently we introduced new collection Back to school 2011. It’s been a year since you started creating this collection. How do you remember the time of creating?
I can remember that I got quite sweaty with suggestions because I wanted to think of a great collcetion full of new features. I’m used to sketch everything in hand and make prep-paintings. Ideas were coming to me in different time and on different places. I can also remember  I already was drewing something in the mountains, half a year before serious creating of Winter collection 2011. I was sitting at the bar and suddendly I got an idea of women’s jacket, which was used for PASSENGER. I also was thinking about the best way to do a hoodie. I had several sketches and few details that was used for the sweatshirt GOODBYE. The suggestion for the VENUS‘ hoodie was developed according to boxer’s gown I saw on TV. So ideas were coming on my mind from different impulses and I was writing them down in my notebook.

Do you have your absolutely favourite piece of the new collection that you’re proud of?
I’m proud of the whole collection but I do have my favourites pieces which I’m gonna buy soon and proudly wear. I can imagine myslef in grey denim jeans FLIGHT or red checked jacket PASSENGER , then sweatshirt LUCIA in black is also very nice or tee MARILYN in lime, the beanie CONE. I‘m also looking forward to HOBO in black with colourful buttons.

It can be said that you’ve been spending time in the future all the time because you have to work on a new collection a year ahead. Don’t you suffer from jet lags sometimes?
Hahaha..yeah I guess it’s one neverending jet lag. Now I think that it’s the year 2012 because right now I’m about to finnish the winter collection 2012. When I fill some papers out in the bank I write the year 2008 as for date because I’m sure that this year had already passed and a bank clerk looks at me so weird everytime. They always ask me if I’m alright! I also travel a lot so I usually have classic jet lags.

When we are talking about the future…could you read from tarot cards and imply what we should be awaiting in a year?
I can see future full of chill out. That’s crystal clear because I have a crystal ball and it’s written inside. People will be smiling on the street and will be nice to each other. There will be hot weather in summer and tons of powder in winter. And if this question was directed to the fashion world I would be only able to imply that colours will be more grounded. Not so flashy.

Back to the present. What do you think it’s the biggest difference between SPRING streetwear collection and this new collection BACK TO SCHOOL ?
Back to school fits better in Horsefeathers outerwear. It supports sporty style of the whole winter collection with its designs. You notice colourful patterns and interesting placements of logo on sweatshirts as well as on outerwear jackets. There are also goose down insulation jackets COMET/COMET VEST and downtown jackets MEROPE and PASSENGER, which have features as outerwear jackets (1.000 waterproofness, 1.000 breathability), in new collection. That’s very unique. This jackets absolutely differ from outerwear jacket design and have that great features useful in very bad weather.
SPRING streetwear collection is different. As for the name „spring streetwear“, you can see that we try to develop a city life collection. It‘s a mixture of functional features and street fashion. It’s stally new for us and we like to push the limits and think of new fashion styles. Look forward to SPRING 2012!

How did you get to a design job? Can’t believe that you once woked up and just knew you would be a designer. Have you always been decided to work in fashion industry and how was your path?
 It is so! One morning I woke up and took a paper into my hands and began to draw. My first sketch was really funny and I‘m still keeping it. It was a girl in tight jeans and Rolling Stones t-shirt. I have no idea how I made it but I was probably a visionary at that time because obviously the type of pants is trendy now. Then my mum supported me a lot so I could attend a painting course and prepare myself for talent exams. Mum was hoping that I stop painting and will be a teacher. But I didin‘t want to give up because I was enjoying designing clothes so much. She taught me how to sew so I could easily realize my ideas. The time flew and I went to art school. The most important moments were internships at places where designers from whole Europe were, so big rivals. I realized I had to work harder and that it’s not always about fun. Collections keep changing in half a year so to make a real good and functional piece is like to get together an atom bomb. When it’s bad it also crashes. Even though I still enjoy my job.

Talking about your past...did you have any idols in childhood?
What a tough question! I have many idols but I can’t pick just few names out.

How long have you been working at Horsefeathers?
I’ve been a team member for two years, but sometimes it looks like 10 years, eternity. So much stuff has been happening here.

It can be presumed that there’s more men at Horsefeathers team. Is it truth? If yes, was it hard to push through your opinion in mens group?
It’s truth. Most of the territory belongs men and for me it was a nice chance to be honest because before I had been among women all the time. I don’t wanna say what’s good or bad. It always depends on concrete people around you, on relationships and harmony. Speaking for myself, I have very good relationships with guys in the office and when we fight a little bit for our own ideas we try to pick out the best one, no matter whose idea that is. I don’t feel pushed in a corner. Anyway, guys know I would fight till the end, wouldn’t give up.

During the years, a role of a woman has been rapidly changed. What do you think about nowadays feminists?
Frankly, the term „nowadays feminists“ is little bit strange for me. I just know that feminist pioneers were trying to achieve equality of rights. I guess that they were very successful indeed so we can study, work  and push through.That’s a big advantage otherwise I could not drive and actually I couldn‘t do my job. But we all know women and men naturally behave in a different way so feminists wouldn‘t push through that women should behave as men. The difference is important. It shouldn’t be erased. I wouldn’t date my clone.

Do you suffer from artistic crisis? What helps you to break through?
Of course, I do. Imagine you think of new clothes every half a year which has to be better than the previous. I get through because of love. Sport activities help me a lot and also travelling. This is my best recipe against crisis.

If you had a moment to influence fashion world and set the trend what would you do and what would be your command?
If I had the power to command people in the whole world it definitely wouldn’t be about fashion.

You work at the company which supports all kinds of board sports. How about you? Do you prefer snowboarding, skateboarding, bikes or even FMX?
Snowboarding is at the 1st place, then bike and running. I didn’t get into skateboarding. The deck actually beat me. But boys try getting me there again sometimes.

Shoes or bags?
Both plus sun glasses.

Blondes or brunettes?
Brunets.

Ideal man?
Kelly Slater.

What's your goal? What would you like to achieve?
My long-life aim is to be happy and of course a better person.

Finally, who would you like to see in the confession booth next time?
I wanna see them all!