VERONICA B. VALLENES

...juxtaposing the edgy and cool with the feminine and elegant

Veronica B. Vallenes, winner of the Max Factor New Talent Award, is a Norwegian designer based in Copenhagen. Vallenes’ latest collections have garnered international recognition in various global publications. She is gaining notoriety exponentially. Veronica B. Vallenes’ design juxtaposes the edgy and cool with the feminine and elegant. Focusing on straight lines and silhouettes, she combines vintage with contemporary references and adds a touch of the exotic. With a background in costume design, Vallenes downplays extravagance in favour of highly wearable yet edgy collections. She combines '80s powerhouse with '50s housewife for a strong yet feminine look. She also includes elements of rugged, rock style to beef up her otherwise delicately glamorous pieces. Her background in costume has taught her to express emotion through fabric, while keeping a sense of mystery. Her pieces have all the drama of the soap opera, Dynasty, the spunk of a punk band and the happy facade of a '50s housewife.

Nothing inspires me like…
Everyday life and people I am surrounded with.

I hope...
My brand will always develop and get bigger and better, and I continue to collaborate with great artists, photographers, stylists and musicians.

Cultural influences…
Inspire me in my design process, especially exotic places like Africa, the nomads in Egypt, Japan and the Riviera in France.

I got where I am…
Because of a big passion for design and hard work. And spending lots of time creating, modelling, working on my own signature style.

Fashion can sometimes…
Be provocative, sometimes beautiful, that’s what makes it so fascinating.

Creativity comes from…
A passion.

If I could…
Travel back in time, I would love to spend some time in the Yves Saint Laurent universe in the late '70s and early '80s.

I once thought…
That starting my own design firm would be easy as long as I was good at designing, but it takes so much more than that.

Love is…
Most important. If you put love and passion into what you do, there’s a bigger chance to succeed and have a good life.

My dreams are…
To continue to develop my design and design process, collaborate with exciting people, and have an attractive and interesting brand, ever developing.

My advice...
To those who are thinking about starting your own brand is to get help from advisers when it comes to the business part.

My goal is…
To expand and further my brand to include mens clothing, shoes and accessories, and broaden my influence in the world of fashion design.

I don't think...
I will ever stop designing.

I like making…
Strong silhouettes and sharp cuts.

I love getting older…
And wiser.

VERONICA B. VALLENES ON NJAL