SHE IS ALSO OUR PROFESSOR: EDINA LÁSZLÓ
“People inspire me, I love watching them, I like the way they react, the way they love, hate, cry and laugh.”
Edina László graduated as a textile designer in Moholy-Nagy Art University, she is a professor in METU’s Craftsmanship BA and the Fashion and Textile Design MA. She founded her own brand, LAZLO, having environmentally friendly technologies and recycled raw materials in focus. Her collections are not defined by the seasons but the idea or a special concept, mixing artistic features and gestures.
What are you involved in? Which field of fashion, which field or style do you feel close to?
In 2009, at the same time when I started the PhD school, I created my own brand based on recycling. First, I used the waste materials after tailoring clothes on re-applied surfaces, then I designed for big international companies from waste materials made in Hungarian sewing factories. I sometimes contributed to companies as a recycling expert. In 2012 we created Lazlo and we could position it abroad: a brand making recycled products.
What appealed to you most in this specialist field?
Recycling, protecting the environment, the protection of the future.
When you are involved in the process of creating something, where do you get impulses from? Where do you start from?
People inspire me, I love watching them, I like the way they react, the way they love, hate, cry and laugh.
Could you tell us something about the thinking and creative process you use when making a piece of art? What was your favourite piece of work? Why?
Basically, I am a pattern designer and what I love most is when I can work with patterns. I created a collection with monotypic clothes from Phosphine patterns as a start (editor: shapes, which we can see when we close our eyes, point-liked or even waving surfaces). I really like doing it. I believe a job or position is good if it is not about compliance or adaptation but us. Art is a bit like self-therapy, luckily the brand for me is not about very serious achievements but games and creative ideas. Probably the reason why teaching is good is that while we are passing on our experiences and help students express themselves, their ideas, we, teachers are able to get charged. It is like a brain training, a creative spiral.
What was your last piece of work? And what are you working on right now?
My last piece of work is a workshop, which is being built and developed continuously. As we work from waste materials - which means waste for the companies - do not think of nasty waste, these are really good quality wool, silk and organic cotton leftovers, as a result it is always the given material that defines the collection and we make only a few pieces of the collection. Therefore, every piece is unique. At the moment I am working on and with blue-dye and I like to re-think traditional techniques, make them alive and incorporate them into everyday life.
When did you make a decision that you would like to teach along with having an art career? How did you find this track?
My master was Csaba Polgár, I really enjoyed working with him. I was his last PhD student, I helped him found a pattern printing workshop and he taught me how to teach. His patience and kindness will stay with me as an example forever.
What is the most important in teaching for you? What is the factor why you like to pass on your knowledge to the upcoming generations? What is the most exciting and the most difficult in the role of an educator?
For me teaching is not difficult, it gives me a good feeling when students are happy, if I can see that they are enthusiastic when I help them solve problems and develop them. I believe if someone has enough empathy, it is not difficult.
Who do you recommend this BA /specialization? What drive can motivate somebody to be part of this world?
For those who would like to do creative jobs.
What message would you send to those who are flirting with the idea of fashion and textile design?
Fashion is a segment; it has a lot of professional parts attached. I think there are far too many fashion designers, but really good professionals are rare. I use clothes as a test surface for patterns, for me technique and technology are far more important.
What is the direction future professionals should take nowadays? What should they watch or see (e.g. an exhibition), what they should read, who to follow on social media?
Honestly, I hate when I am defined, therefore I do not think much of fashion, especially not that type of fashion that is sold to everybody with this label. What should those people do who are interested in designing clothes or textile? Read a lot, go to exhibitions, be educated, look for themselves and their opportunities!
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