New Zealand born designer & Tailor Michael Pattison now works from his home studio in Berlin creating unique pieces for a variety of customers. Michael was one of the designers featured in the fashion event Runway in Gibraltar on the 3rd of May and before the fashion show i-Marbella got an exclusive interview with the young upcoming talent!

New Zealand born designer & Tailor Michael Pattison now works from his home studio in Berlin creating unique pieces for a variety of customers. Offering his technical assistance to other brands and taking on a diverse array of design/costume projects, Michael Pattison Design is a one stop shop for all your clothing, pattern design and tailoring requirements.

His tailored, vibrant designs, and use of bold print, make for distinct yet ultimately wearable pieces and as history has proven, both men and women flock to own a Pattison design!Having completed his Bachelor of Fashion design in NZ in 2002 Pattison launched his eponymous label and operated a succesful business from Auckland flagship Atelier and Boutique for 10 years before up and leaving to see the world. 

During his last 3 years in NZ Pattison launched the nifty wee diversion label Trix & Dandy in response to the recession. Images from Trix & Dandy can be found scatterd throughout the "Past & Present" Gallery or seen on facebook here.

1. When did you start having interest in fashion?

When I was about 16 I got particularly bored of the structure of graphic design and I decided that I would try my hand in textile craft. It was a very rural and masculine community in the middle of New Zealand. I have always designed 50/50, for women and men, but for my commercial collections in New Zealand I did about 70% womenswear, because that is what the market operates there. 

2. How would you describe your brand and designs?

My keywords have always been young, fun and colourful. There is always a tailoring aspect of course. I just really love to create a really complicated design, that compliments the figure.

Moving to Berlin has been quite a big release in terms of creativity. Because in New Zealand there was constant pressure and busy schedule with timelines, since the collection had to be delivered and ready at that time. You only have a two week period to design 80 pieces and now I have more time and freedom, because I work totally alone in my house where I live with my husband. Berlin is such a wild city with lots of diversity, because people from all kind of nationalities come together and nobody is judgemental. People are genuine and free.

3. Where do you sell your designs?

I tailor to order, whoever where can order.Around the world. I have been travelling for the last 3 years now meeting people around the world. 

4. How many designs are in the Runway 2014 show?

There is about 50 pieces, worn by 22 models.

5. Which designer do you dream about working with? Who do you admire?

New Zealand was so remote, so we are so detached from fashion world I didn’t pay so much attention what was going out there. But there are some designers that I really love, for example Gaultier for his challenging ideas, also Kenzo and oriental kind of designers. Recently I was looking also at Lanvin and its creates amazing pieces. 

6.What else do you besides designing?

I am also a chef. I go between cooking and design. They are like twins in my head - fashion and food. I also worked as a chef when I got to Berlin. And actually my next project is to open a street food place. I’m gluten intolerant and my place will also be dairy free and vegan/vegetarian food is becoming more popular now and there isn’t a place like it in Berlin yet. 

7. Is this your first time in Spain?

I have been to Spain a couple of times, but most of my time I spend in Barcelona, Madrid and also been to Costa del Sol.

www.pattisondesign.com