14 May Cha.rak.ter Construction by Christina Schatzeder
Christina Schatzeder is the founder and creative mind behind “Cha.rak.ter Couture”. Her concept store is a place where handcrafted fashion melts together with pieces of vintage furniture and other hand picked treasures. Here’s a little insight of what we’re going to see at her exhibition at the Take Parcours and some other thoughts of her.
The meaning of the word “character” that you use in your brand name “Cha.rak.ter Couture” means stamp; engrave in Greek as you’ve mentioned on your website. Why did you choose that name and was it clear from the beginning of your brand´s journey that you wanted to create a whole concept store around designs you like?
The origin of the word Cha·rạk·ter was exactly the reason why I chose it as my brand name – a stamping/graving tool, an imprinted mark. Each one of us is affected by someone or affects other people, like a graving tool. Fashion and designs encourage people to show and form their own individual character. From the beginning I always wanted to create a space where people can shop and also discover the process of creating and making. I love the direct exchange with customers, its very important for me and also a source of inspiration and motivation.
© Jacob Urwanisch
The project that we’re going to see at the Take Parcours is called “Cha-rak-ter Construction”. Can you give a hint what we could expect to see?
Cha.rak.ter Construction is my upcoming new collection. At the Take Festival you will see the first pieces of the new collection – like a preview. In co-operation with the photographer Jakob Urwanisch we photographed different people in the clothes. We asked them to create their individual style combined with their favorite things, to show their individual character.
© Jacob Urwanisch
Is there any place you like to visit or anything you do if you’re searching for new ideas?
My inspiration can derive from anything. Sometimes it´s just little things I notice through random occurrences. I always carry around a small notebook in which I write or draw ideas. When it comes to new collections I start reading them again.
Something off topic – What’s your favorite restaurant/bar/café in Vienna?
There are some restaurants and cafes around my corner I really like for example the “Cafe Goldegg” or “Das Lokal im Hof“, but actually I prefer to meet people at their home places. I totally love to discover different styles of living.
© Jacob Urwanisch
How do you decide what to put together in your store? Do you care a lot about the origin of the pieces, the color palette, the story behind the design or things like fair-trade or organic fabric?
I want to create a mix of handcrafted products, selected around the globe and from local designers. People should be aware of what they buy and wear, therefore the origin of the pieces and their own individual story behind each product is important to share. That´s also a reason why I created an atelier combined with a shop, to show the people the story behind everything.
