PURGATORY (II) - DAMIAN GLAZEWSKI

Tell me about your beginnings. Your age, background, education. How did you get into fashion? 

I started designing more consciously at the age of 16 when I started studying at the Technical School of Clothing Technology. I learned there a solid foundation of clothing design and sewing. After school I worked as a tailor at the Gdansk shipyard (I sewed sails), later as a clothing designer in one of the largest clothing companies in Poland. While working, I earned money for my dream studies at the Academy of Fine Arts in Lodz. 

Now I am 27 years old. I use the knowledge gained from the university to this day. I develop my skills every day, just like I did during those years. School and learning are one thing, but it is not enough, you have to set new challenges every day and raise the bar. I got into the fashion world thanks to numerous competitions for young designers. I met personalities from the fashion world and today, design is my whole life. 

Where do you draw inspiration from? 

I definitely draw inspiration from the emotions I experience observing everything around me. It can't just be a nice building, a flower or a pet. If it's architecture, nature, or anything else, it must inspire me and move my sensitive side. My collections are very private and I try to convey my feelings and thoughts in them. The only inspiration that is forbidden to me is the inspiration of other designers. If we are inspired by someone else's project work, we will never create something innovative or private. It will always be filtering someone else's idea. 

How does the opposition of artistic satisfaction vs. commercial success affect your work? 

I found the golden mean. I know how to design to meet commercial needs and stay myself designing what I would like to show to the world. I do not want to develop this topic, because the time will come when I show that it's possible. 

Do you ever feel limited by the customers’ (and the fashion industry in general) opinions, needs and fears? Do you consider yourself a rule-breaker or you prefer to keep it safe? 

I am definitely not a person who plays safe. I like to break the rules and accepted norms. Staying safe is boring. It certainly gives more money but gives less satisfaction and is less interesting. I will do what I consider appropriate and what I consider valuable. Of course life verifies all. At the moment I can say that I will not bend and I'd rather have a slice of bread a day than give up, but will it be so? The future will tell...