Back to Black – An Interview with Augustin Teboul

German-born Annelie Augustin and French-born Odély Teboul are the designers behind Augustin Teboul. They insist on flawless workmanship and finest materiality – deeply rooted in the craft of tailoring, they combine poetry and gravity in their designs. DASH Editor in Chief NoéMie Schwaller interviewed Annelie and Odely to find out – amongst other things– why this duo is obsessed with the ever fashionable non-colour.

NoéMie: How do you feel the Berlin fashion scene is evolving?

Odely: I think the Berlin fashion scene is quite young, but there’s been a lot of change in the last seasons. People are interested to explore it and the arts scene is so active that it can also push the fashion scene.

N: Last season we saw a lot of flowers, what are we going to see today?

Annelie: It’s going to be very different to last time; last time it was more playful.

O: This line is a bit more minimal with light, breathing light and the music and rhythm. You will see.

N: I look forward to it. Your designs are described as post-romantic inspired by surrealism, what is coming up in your Autumn / Winter 2013 collection?

O: We’ve been inspired by a mixture of many different ethnic influences. Also, everything is very much based on graphics.

N: So you cast your models yourself? What’s the most important thing about the look they should have?

O: Yes, the models should be special, elegant and wear our clothes nicely.

N: Do you decide which ones you want to have yourself?

A: Yes.

N: And you’re going to be working with Sebastian Professional’s urban design team, can you tell me more about this collaboration?

O: It’s great to work with Sebastian Professional and to have this collaboration. It’s very interesting because the hair also play a very important part in the fashion show, and we really think about what headpiece goes with what hairstyle.

N: Together with the design team of Sebastian?

O: Yeah, so it’s very important to find the right partners to create a complete look.

N: You’re designing mostly in black, can you tell us more about this obsession with this non-colour?

A: It kind of happened naturally. For the first project we worked on together we decided to work with black, and it worked out quite well. It also allows us to work in more detail, to explore all of these handcrafted techniques. That’s why we might be obsessed with black as it’s a good base for us to work with. It’s classic and elegant.

N: How do you split the work between the two of you?

A: There isn’t a real split; we’re both designing and there’s a lot of exchange. It splits up naturally; Odely, who is much faster, was doing the crocheting and all these things.

O: It’s not just about being fast, it’s also about personality and a way of thinking. I’m more into materials and Annelie is more into shapes and structures. So it’s mainly one says, “Oh, lets do this and that.” Then the work gets divided naturally.

N: How would you say the two awards you have won have advanced your business and your label?

O: We never would have done anything without winning an award, firstly because of money and, secondly, because it gives you motivation. The public goes, “Yes we want to see more.”

N: And what is next for you?

O: Earning Money? Haha.

A: Getting famous? Ha.

N: Is that what you want?

A: It would be good to have the label in shops internationally.

N: One last question, and this is quite a funny one. How do you have your eggs for breakfast?

O: It depends…

N: Scrambled?

O: Depends on the day, I like them poached or in an omelet, but it really depends on the mood.

N: Thank you so much for your time.

Interview: NoéMie Schwaller