We were lucky to catch up with Friedrich Fromm recently and have shared our conversation below.

Friedrich, appreciate you joining us today. How did you learn to do what you do? Knowing what you know now, what could you have done to speed up your learning process? What skills do you think were most essential? What obstacles stood in the way of learning more?

I learned sewing first by taking weekly sewing classes during middle school and then continuing to practice at home with youtube tutorials and pattern books. I started sewing because I wanted to translate the sketches I made in my free time into real pieces. I think I could have learned more about finishings and high value techniques to speed up the improvement of quality in the make of my pieces. Most essential in the beginning was definitely getting an understanding of how patterns and cuts work, and a spacial understanding of clothes. I remember sewing together accidentally the hemline of the first ever skirt I made because I didnt understand what was what.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

My dream of working in the fashion industry originated in my need for self expression which I already practiced as a small kid when I was sketching my own scoccer jersey designs and stage costumes for stars like Lady Gaga. After over a decade of sewing classes, a 4 year Bachelor at ArtEZ University and a 2 year Master as Kunsthochschule Berlin Weissensee, I am now entering the work field as fashion designer with a focus on menswear. What sets me apart in menswear is my approach of combining traditional tailoring craft and elements of conservative menswear design with fresh and personal references to folklore dress, street- and sportswear and modern techniques such as laser-cutting and sublimation printing. This leads to a fresh and innovative, yet wearabel and often sublte modern male wardorbe. I am mostly proud of how I was able to translate this approach into two graduation collections (B.A. and M.A.) and how well especially the Bachelor one was recieved in the finals of competitions like BIAAF, Mittelmoda, Lichting and Design Blok Prague.

Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?

My goal is to achieve ideally a lot of creative control, maybe one day even as a creative director, within a label which I fit in stylistically, where i can contribute my ideas for modern and sleek menswear in a meaningful manner. Working in a design team where I learn from others and also bring in value myself is the ultimate goal!

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

Expression. Being able to tell a story with your selection of fabrics, prints, shapes, colors, cuts, details, accessoires and more is so incredibly fun and rewarding to do. And its also rewarding to see how those stories or ideas are recieved and maybe (mis-) understood. For example, Mark Holgate wrote in an article for US Vogue runway about a knit poncho I made, which shows a black and blue abstracted cone motif, which he interpreted to be a knitted version of the great wave of Kanagawa painting, which I find fascinating.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fritzfromm/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/fritz-fromm-617018218/

Image Credits

Jens Kowa Berlin (photographer)

Marco H (model), Suchmodels Agency
Karl Hirschberger (model), Silver Agency
Liliana (model)