Designer Spotlight: Material Memorie.

Material Memorie is designed by visual artist and designer Victor Hugo. Having studied design at the leading art and design
schools in the country, Material Memorie is a self-described artistic exploration under the confines of fashion, drawing inspiration from the world’s leading runway collections and city street styles. Initially founded in July 2010 as a response to costume eyewear requests. The capsule collection, “Little Monster Haus”, eyewear inspired by Lady Gaga was developed and available through select websites. Discovering early success with the line, including a feature in the Hair Wars finale, Material Memorie expanded upon its collection of eyewear in January 2011.

Carbon Magazine: How long has Material Memorie been on the market?

Victor Hugo: I’ve been making and designing costume pieces for many years, but within recent years I was very interested in masks. So eyewear became an easy transition and I started by making some cool Gaga-inspired shades for my friends. But they became just a hit outside my own circle that I started Material Memorie in New York City around mid-2010 with the Little Monster Haus. However it wasn’t until January 2011 that Material Memorie truly took form with the first collection titled NOIR.

CM: Clearly your designs are couture, where do you get your inspiration?

V: There’s a Zoroastrian quality to my inspiration that I like to explore. I like the idea of duality, good and evil or black and white- the idea of opposites. But I truly have so many sources of inspiration behind Material Memorie; it’s hard to point out a single
one. In every collection I like to work within a theme and draw from there.

CM: What makes your brand stand out from companies that make a similar product?

V: Material Memorie is first and foremost art, it just so happens to be wearable. Every piece, every collection has a unique story behind it. I think a lot of designers forget that fashion is meant to tell stories and it’s not about grabbing what you can and making something out of it. I work within a small industry of designers doing what I do and what I can say is that I don’t claim my products to be anything they’re not.

CM: As winter wraps up, what were a few of your favorite trends?

V: One of my favorites out of the season was definitely the bold use of color and the exotic skins used. It was beautifully refreshing and I took elements of that and incorporated it into my last line. I think the most obvious are the Alchem’s.

CM: Your shades are rocked on a stylish celeb, who is it?

V: I’ve actually been asked this many times before and truthfully I’m not concerned with celebrities. I believe I’m in the business of making rockstars, if you aren’t one at least you feel like one! I find it so much more rewarding when someone can put on my shades and can look and feel good. If I can achieve that, then I’ve done my job and made a celebrity.

CM: Do you have a favorite piece you’ve ever designed?

V: I’m in love with all of my designs really. And I secretly think picking a favorite might upset the others. Cheir is probably among the most unique right now because it transforms the frame into a mask.

CM: How do you keep up-to-date with the latest trends?

V: I try and keep up to date with the shows as much as possible, especially when I’m lucky enough to attend. But social media has become such an important tool for information, I like seeing what people are blogging and reblogging on Tumblr and reading the headlines on Twitter. And nothing really beats the print magazine; my favorites are probably Vogue Homme Japan and V magazine.

CM: Of course NY is a fashion universe, but how would you describe your town’s style?

V: New York is a melting pot for fashion. It’s so unique, beautiful and diverse that the only word that could simply describe it as eclectic.

CM: What advice do you have for aspiring designers?

V: Regardless of what you do, always stay true to who you are.

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Though I have an undying passion for high fashion and couture looks, I play it rather safe in my everyday attire. Accessories wise, I am extra cautious when adding a statement piece of jewelry; not one for hats, or even multiple rings, but all of that was altered when I received my Material Memorie frames directly from Victor. My first thought? Woah! These took on a shape of a much-loved Ray Ban optical frame, but studded with black and white rhinestones? Much better. I wore these babies to class with my BB Dakota Poncho, black skinny jeans, and charcoal gray ankle boots. I felt fabulous receiving so many compliments, and I was then
confident enough to know that I can rock couture looks like Material Memorie without pushing the oh-so thin line of college couture/trying too hard. With stunning detail and frames that hold up, Material Memorie is the place to score your new favorite accessory.

Check out Material Memorie at www.materialmemorie.com