A look through the many collections that have built Ploier’s reputation as a bona fide fashion designer shows a predilection for easy, comfortable yet hardly predictable clothing. The Autumn-Winter 15 collection is no less startling, as a traditional seasonal colour palette suddenly shifts in favour of deep sky blue exotic prints. If the premises of Ploier’s womenswear designs are to match her work with men’s fashion, her follow up collection is definitely one to look out for. Here we speak to the Austrian designer.

Fashion is a medium I love to work with. It is so close to people. It tells stories. A great collection is like a movie with its own characters, soundtrack, lights and so on, and I just love movies.

Strong. Subtle. Humorous.

I love going to a museum and finding a work of art that really touches my heart. Also, the setting and the silence there is something that I enjoy. My collections have often been inspired by a particular artist and their work.

I haven’t thought about “zwie" for a long time; this goes way back. “Zwie” was more about creating concepts and expressing them through different media. We worked on one fashion oriented project though - a collection of fortune cookie underwear. It sold out immediately and the concept was soon copied by a big, commercial underwear brand.

Products and manufacturing have certainly become more elaborate. I got to know myself better over the last ten years. In this way, I now understand better who my customers are and what they like about the brand. It is important to realize what your strengths are.

Masculine and feminine. Elegant and generous. Cool but not cold. Handcrafted with love.

As a female designer working in menswear for the last 10 years I was hungry for something new. I felt it was time to do something for my own wardrobe too. Womenswear often has a tendency to be girlish or too sweet and I cannot identify with that. I like femininity and sensuality in a woman, but with a raw edge. That is how I want to dress and the reason why I ventured into womenswear.

It is a quote by Austrian architect Adolf Loos and revolves around the idea of over-decoration and reduction. This is something I find very relevant, especially in womenswear.

Actually, no! The Ute Ploier woman and man tell the same story. There is a difference though in terms of limitation. I love menswear but there are certain materials or colours that simply won’t work for my customer. In womenswear there are by far fewer restrictions, which is fun if you know what you are looking for.

Sustainability, human rights, fair distribution of wealth.

Look out for our new collection in October! We are also working on an in-house showroom and shop here in Vienna due to open in October as well.