Up-and-coming graduate fashion designer Céline De Schepper is well on the way to having her own fashion label, says Delphine Stefens
With her fine features, clear skin, intense sparkling blue eyes and lush red lips, Céline De Schepper’s striking looks are reflected in the clothes and accessories she designs, such as those sported by Hooverphonic lead singer Noémie Wolfs on the cover of this issue.
Originally from Sint-Niklaas, De Schepper (23) lives in Brussels where she studied fashion design at the city’s renowned La Cambre School of Visual Arts, graduating last year from the five year curriculum with her collection Sadness Is a Colour shown at La Cambre’s annual student fashion show.
ETHNIC AND EXOTIC
This is an ultra feminine collection of constructed garments with a dash of drama and an ethnic and exotic feel to them; shades of brown dominate with touches of orange, yellow or green. Broad shoulders are balanced by long trains and accessorized with leather corsets, jewelled collars, and chunky wooden belts, bracelets and shoes. No wonder, then, that it won the annual prize offered by the Brussels concept store Hunting and Collecting. As well as winning a medal, items from De Schepper’s collection were displayed in the shop’s window in Rue des Chartreux and she was given the opportunity to develop pieces for retail.
FLOWERS AND FRUIT
With work experience for Viktor & Rolf under her belt, an enthusiastic De Schepper says her prints are inspired by wood marquetry and marble and she draws further inspiration from the style of nonagenarian fashion icon Iris Apfel, and the flower and fruit displays on Mexican altars as photographed by Tomás Casademunt.
This promising young designer was also approached by the niche fashion firm JOPA Editions to conceive a collection of accessories; once again, De Schepper chose to work with leather and wood. Pieces from her limited edition Would You Like are for sale through the JOPA gallery.
