SMALL TALKS: SOPHIA LERNER
THE PERUVIAN DESIGNER REACHING OUTSIDE THROUGH THE ROADS OF THE INTERNET.
Sophia Lerner is a Lima based fashion designer. With a strong love for conceptual meticulosity, creative innovation, and a very defined sense of aesthetic identity, her collections strive to reshape the way that Limean fashion looks at the crossroads between clothes and the artistic process of designer pieces. Focusing on the experimental treatment of denim, she has an eye on the future, being one of the first Peruvian designers to ever start their own online boutique.
In a world where communications and social media have become increasingly imperative, specially in a society in which it has been hard for new talent to gain visibility, alternative methods for showcasing creative work are only an obvious answer to the desire for international recognition. We have asked Sophia some questions...
Sophia F/W 2016
SMJ: What do you enjoy the most about the process of creating a collection?
Sophia Lerner: I love it when your concept is profoundly investigated, when the direction your'e going in is clear and everything stars to flow when translating it into textures.
SMJ: You have a very particular and a very complex aesthetic universe, what would you say are your biggest influences?
Sophia Lerner: Designer-wise: Yohji Yamamoto and Rei Kawakubo, and when it comes to artists Paul Klee, Salvador Dalí and others.
SMJ:What would you say is the most important part of your design?
Sophia Lerner: I would say the elaboration of textures is one of the most important aspects for me, you get to play with it and create something very personal.
SMJ: You have a very evolved sense of aesthetic, with very universal qualities, what would you say is the importance of having more universal approaches in our fashion industry that's only just starting to grow?
Sophia Lerner: I think it lets us know how the industry is evolving abroad and that way we are able to adapt and modify the trend elements according to our own personal aesthetic, it also lets brands with universal recognition recognise Peruvian potential.
Sophia F/W 2016
SMJ: Do you think Peruvian fashion designers are taking advantage of the reach that technology has?
Sophia Lerner: Yes, for example it lets independent designers evolve in the public eye, that, one way or another, is a way of having permanent contact with their segments, creating a continuous relationship.
SMJ: Can you tell us a little bit about how you decided to start your Label online?
Sophia Lerner: I feel like the Peruvian market is very conservative and not risk-taking enough when it comes to buying clothes, and my designs can be the opposite to this, so i decided that e-commerce was a good way to reach a more risk-taking public.
Sophia F/W 2016
SMJ: Can you give us a little sneak peak of what awaits us with your latest collection? What it's inspired by?
Sophia Lerner: It's inspired by an artist I admire a lot, which has taken me to experiment with different textures and silhouettes. You can see more on my Instagram.
SMJ: Finally, What do you think Peruvian creators should be giving more value to?
Sophia Lerner: On one side all the prime matter that Peru produces, and on the other hand, al the new independent designers That are coming out.