ANNTIAN Autumn/Winter 2011 “Crystal Inside”

“Crystal Inside” carries away from cold, icy winter days outside with crystal clear air and gives in the longing for coziness and comfort -for being inside.

The Interior of one’s home is in focus now—there are all these things that make you feel at home and comfortable that allows you to contemplate.

Objects you’ve come across over the years and that happened to be beloved ones. Things of no real value, just full of “meaning”, thoughts and memories of your own... Pillows, books, rugs and blankets, plants, stoles, tea & pastries...

On this basis graphic elements of the collection are inspired by ornaments, patterns of rugs, crystals, geometric arrangements to be found in “still lifes”.

Colors are earthy, brown tones, black and white, plus strong highlights like red and pale neon green, accompanied by a fresh pale blue.

Patterns are based on the approach of “involving” blankets and scarves in garments and silhouettes - patterns developed out of “wrapped” blankets.

The composition: series of wool coats, jackets and trousers…some printed jerseys, and an ensemble of knit, being important in the line.

Alongside the clothing line the collection includes pillows, blankets, rugs, printed porcelain dishes & tea sets, plus the crystal-porcelain jewelry line and the winter boot.

See the whole collection here.

Photos & text Copyright ANNTIAN.

ANNTIAN Spring/Summer 2011 “Ocean View”

Picturing one dreamily look on the ocean, the collection plays with the variety of thoughts and feelings evoked within.

Tropical fruits, their taste and inherent beauty, plants and the unique diversity of rich colors, surfaces and haptics they offer—natural luxury.

Murmuring and flowing water, waves and plants, wind, structures of rocks and haptics of sand, shapes of mussels and corals - and all the multiple scents and smells. Contemplation, emotional and sensual experiences constitute the line.

Behind this is our wish to touch on the subject of how important the relation and behaviour towards nature, food and “living together” is.

Colours like sky, ocean blue, coconut white, reed and kiwi green, coral and watermelon red, orange, citron yellow go along with natural, soft , fluent and transparent, so as pure , rigid and clear materials.

The Shapes show movement and waves combined with contrasting straight and clear forms.


See the whole view here.

Photos by Johanna Ruebel, CopyrightANNTIAN.
Hair/make-up: Mo Oturak
Models: Julia & Richard

“Walk in the Light” with ANNTIAN

ANNTIAN has just launched the 2010 autumn/winter collection entitled “Walk in the Light,” which, in the designers’ words:

“tells about walks that you have in the dark, at night; it’s about illuminated windows that give moments of insight while passing them, about a light cone of a pocket lamp, about beaming Spotlights wandering around, detecting, blinding, searching, finding, focusing.

Hidden Beauty, ordinary banal structures we come across everyday get spotted and highlighted, such as road/sidewalk surfaces you walk on, wood grain of a chair, PVC flooring, etc.

The collection, as a Journey, a Walk of Senses, connects to daily surroundings, to Spaces and places we’re living at, to objects and structures.

It’s the attempt to search and find the very ‘special’ that is inherent in so many things of our daily life, to search and find the outstanding—to give in the Magic.”

Anne Hilken and Christian Kurt (ANN plus TIAN) have been designing in Berlin since 2006, combining the techniques of hand painting and paper printing into eco-friendly menswear.



Photo & slideshow Copyright ANNTIAN.

What the Designers have been Saying

I would like to take this time to thank all the readers of Men’s Fashion by Francesco! As you know, I write these articles simply out of my passion for menswear and for your reading pleasure.

I am extremely excited that interest in Men’s Fashion by Francesco has sparked around the world, receiving nearly 5,000 hits in June alone, with readers from 80 nations!

I spend multiple hours researching each designer and label as I dig into their upbringings, inspirations, hometowns, and cultures, seeking for nuggets of gold that influence their designs.

Like yours, their positive feedback is a satisfying reward. So, here’s a little more of what they have been saying:

Sun Lee for Blue Notch Jeans
Thank you so much for the beautiful writeup...we are all thrilled!! You captured the brand’s spirit so eloquently!

Petter Hollstöm, Odeur
I think you have written a very good post about Odeur. It really makes me happy when people understand what we try to accomplish, and you explain it in an exceptional way.

Attilio at St. Louis Fashion Week
Great blog! Not only did I enjoy your in-depth treatment of designers, I'm impressed with your great eye for up-and-coming coming talent.

Chris Cheng, LAB
Ty from the heart for the kind words and interest again. Such a joy to read and well researched, the ref points are exactly my thinking and reason behind—always gently European and Japanese inspired and with nod to art—meanwhile with both artist I studied their works and fell in love with.

Candice of Saint Augustine Academy
Many thanks for your great post about Saint Augustine Academy; I love the detail that you have included. It’s a great piece. Thank you again.

Marcus Kersch, Kornerd
Thanks for that…I checked it out…looks great!

Pedra at Zaiceck
I just read your article—fantastic!

Carolyn Massey
Great…many thanks.

Umit Benan
It’s great. Thanx.

Tibor of Chris&Tibor
Fantastic work…thanks so much for promoting us and our collaborator friends on your blog!

Chi Zhang
I have seen the article; it is very very nice! I like your writing.

Sean at Wrath Arcane
Looks great!

Christian Kurt of AnnTian
We like your blog very much. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR REALLY NICE ARTICLE!

Max Kibardin
I would like to thank you so much for the beautiful article.

Marcus Larsson, Ljung
Thanks a lot for you nice article at your page. Very nicely made!!

Elena, PR for Falling Empire
I've read your article and I liked it. I'll show it to Ruslan Minzhinskiy and Tanya Andreychenko.

You may find previous responses at What the Designers are Saying..., What the Designers Keep on Saying..., Some More of What the Designers Are Saying.

ANNTIAN & the Directives of Man

What happens when you put a graphic designer like Anne Hilken and a fashion designer like Christian Kurt in the same studio?

You get ANNTIAN—a Berlin-based line of menswear that incorporates hand-painting and paper-printing techniques into eco-friendly fashion design, all locally made!

Since 2006, Anne and Christian have been creating their own direction in both life and creative work, transferring the aesthetics of conceptual sculptures and artistic forms to menswear. But to what extent can you transfer abstract thoughts to practical garments before they clash?

Directives—we are all subject to directives in life. Marriam-Webster defines ‘directives’ as “something that serves to direct, guide, and usually impel toward an action or goal.”

So what directives are you subject to in life and your creative work, and where do you start to feel boundaries in what is possible or not possible to perform?

This is the essence of Directives, ANNTIAN's 2009 a/w collection.

Photo 2009 a/w collection Copyright ANNTIAN.
Slide show 2009 a/w collection Copyright ANNTIAN.