VIRTUOGENIX: You mentioned you were always interested in textile at a very young age. What is it about textile that fascinates you the most?
JUDITH BONDY: I am obsessed with the sensation of fabrics; how it feels when you touch it and the feeling on your skin. We have such an intimate connection with the garments we wear, we live in it, it becomes our second skin. It fascinates me how textiles can set our mood; how it transports us into another mindset.
VIRTUOGENIX: We remember the first time we saw some pieces from your collection on ELIZAVETA PORODINA’s Instagram feed. How did the collaboration come about?
JUDITH BONDY: I have been following Elizaveta’s work for a while and was on the lookout for someone to shoot my graduate / debut collection. On a Sunday morning I wrote her an email and thought I would never hear back but then received a call one hour later. It was a magical experience and I learned so much about my own work through her.
VIRTUOGENIX: Are the pieces available for purchase?
JUDITH BONDY: Yes, I am working on sales / production right now. For now people who are interested can contact me directly via my website or on Instagram.
VIRTUOGENIX: What is the main essence of your designs?
JUDITH BONDY: My designs are very playful and young at heart. I like to create a world with no limits around it. Some of the designs are quite daring, which I like. Everybody is invited to become part of this world.
VIRTUOGENIX: Some designers are known for their tailoring / avant-garde designs / corsetry / etc. What would you like to be known for?
JUDITH BONDY: I would like to be known for my unique, hand-made detail. Many of my designs are based around embellishment, embroidery, and specific hardware. My designs tend to have a touch of couture. The PVC pieces are hand sewn, every single flower is made by hand and the ruffling of the tulle takes a lot of time. Making them is almost a meditative process and gives each piece a high value.
VIRTUOGENIX: According to your CV, you had an internship at Figge von Rosen art gallery in Berlin. Will you tell us a little bit about it?
JUDITH BONDY: I have always been interested in art and grew up in a family where creativity was a big part of daily life. Though I knew at a young age that I wanted to work with textiles, I was also interested in other things like photography, illustration, painting etc. I wanted to get to know the art world better and figure out if it could be my path to combine Art with Fashion. Working in a gallery did not end up being fulfilling enough for me. Sitting in a gallery all day, waiting for someone to come in was not as exciting as working in a studio creating all day long.
VIRTUOGENIX: How would you describe the time you spent in Antwerp as an intern at ANN DEMEULEMEESTER?
JUDITH BONDY: I had a very good time in Antwerp interning for Ann Demeulemeester, she is one of my favourite designers. The depth and richness of her work and her friendship with Patti Smith (who I love) made me proud to be part of the team. I learned how organized, friendly and healthy a fashion company can be, which is unfortunately very rare. I stayed in Antwerp for one season. A perfect amount of time to get to know the city, and more importantly the people. Though the city is quite small, most of the major designers live or studied there. I met so many highly talented people who I am still friends with.
VIRTUOGENIX: You also had an internship at MEISTERSCHUH. Would you tell us about it?
JUDITH BONDY: Meisterschuh is a shoemaker for customized shoes in Berlin, known for its unbeatable quality.
VIRTUOGENIX: How was the internship like?
JUDITH BONDY: I wanted to learn about leather because I was thinking about specializing in shoemaking as a master degree instead of fashion. They taught me how to build shoes and how to repair them. There was one man who was designing and making beautiful bags and I was instantly interested in his work. He taught me how to work with thick leather, how to stitch it by hand, how to burnish the edges and so on. It was a delightful experience.
VIRTUOGENIX: Is that where you learned to create your bags?
JUDITH BONDY: This is where I fell in love with bags and accessories and when I started making bags from PVC, I applied the same techniques to it that I learnt at Meisterschuh. Also I could never find the perfect bag for myself which led to the conclusion that I have to make it myself.
VIRTUOGENIX: We are enamoured by your horse-shaped bag. Does it have a name?
JUDITH BONDY: It does, she is called Wendy. I grew up being totally crazy about horses and was a faithful reader of the Horse Magazine “Wendy”. As an homage to my childhood – that I based this collection on – I called her Wendy.
VIRTUOGENIX: Is there a reason you created it using PVC?
JUDITH BONDY: I love the transparency. It appears less heavy than if it was made from leather. Also, PVC is more flexible and easier to sew by hand. But soon I will start working with leather for other designs.
VIRTUOGENIX: Is the bag also available for purchase? And, is it going to be available in different colors and materials?
JUDITH BONDY: I am working on that – it is not easy to find somebody who can produce the bags. But I always take custom orders.
VIRTUOGENIX: What is the concept behind your next collection?
JUDITH BONDY: My new collection is based on a long dream narrative happening in 24h. It follows a muse who is a somewhat “alienated princess” venturing into different places in time and space – from waking in her teenage bedroom, to being in a surreal American cooking show, arriving in Tokyo’s underground scene, facing a group of alligators in the jungle, and finding herself in a British tea party held in the Secret Garden. The story goes on and takes her into even more surreal places…stay tuned.
VIRTUOGENIX: What are the major differences and similarities between your upcoming collection and your previous collection?
JUDITH BONDY: My debut collection was much more dreamy and soft while this collection is more bright and bold. As for material I kept working with PVC, tulle and added some new fabrics. The impression of this collection is much more rebellious.
I believe my design style stays true to itself, although the inspiration and colors have changed, the general dispositions of the garments are always consistent with my creative expression, this makes sure that when my garments and accessories are spotted that they are recognizable as my work.
VIRTUOGENIX: When is it going to come out and what can we expect to see?
JUDITH BONDY: I would like to present this collection in the spring, independent of any fashion weeks. Though I am working on my ideas for the presentation, it has not yet been fully decided. I am thinking of something interactive which could be an installation, a pop- up store etc. as an alternative to the traditional runway show.
VIRTUOGENIX: Would you let us know about your working process from start to finish?
JUDITH BONDY: Before I start the new collection I always know what colors I want to work with. So I am starting with sourcing materials. Meanwhile I am researching what caught my attention in the last few months. It can be anything from people, movies, books, magazines or even sounds. Once I have collected a couple of images I start to create a story around it and when I feel like my moodboard is complete I start sketching ideas. Before I go into full detail with my sketches I start doing prototypes and do a few fully-fashioned pieces. Once they are done I revisit my sketches, add new ideas and make changes. I continue like that until the collection is finished. Once the collection is finished I will do an editorial shooting to capture the mood and tell the story of the collection as well as a lookbook shooting to document each piece. Finally I am presenting the collection in a show, an installation, a pop up store or anything that fits correctly with the concept of the collection.
VIRTUOGENIX: Which part of the process do you enjoy the most?
JUDITH BONDY: My favorite part is sourcing materials / hardware, for testing, and figuring out how they work together then to be used in the final product. I like details a lot and put a big focus on them in my work, so I usually start with details and then design the garments around them.
VIRTUOGENIX: When you are not working on your upcoming collection, what do you do? (What is your typical day like?)
JUDITH BONDY: If I don’t have to work, I like to have coffee in bed, reading my books or magazines to catch up what’s happening in fashion and art. Then I like to do some yoga or go to ballet class if I have more time and / or go to see an exhibition, meet my friends for a flea market stroll and cook some dinner together or go out.
VIRTUOGENIX: Other than textile and fashion design, what other things are you interested in? And, what do you do for fun?
JUDITH BONDY: I like cooking a lot, for myself or with friends. Otherwise I am doing a lot of yoga to slow down or ballet for concentration. I also like to be out in nature exploring and enjoying the silence. I travel quite a bit too, which is great to challenge myself constantly. When I am home, I love crafting things for my flat, building furniture, decorating and so on. And cuddling my cat of course (;
VIRTUOGENIX: What are the things you wished you’ve known before you launched your first collection?
JUDITH BONDY: I think I knew how it would be in theory, but living through it is completely different. Of course I was told how challenging it is, how costly, how risky… I learn new things every day, which is great and sometimes scary. But in the end I created my own world and am my own boss, this freedom is unbeatable!
VIRTUOGENIX: What is your advice to people who wish to pursue a career in fashion design?
JUDITH BONDY: Look at how many jobs are out there in fashion; there is so much more than just being a designer. Explore a lot, do internships internationally to figure out what you want to do. Take your time, don’t look at what other people do too much and trust your gut feeling.
