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Architects That Became Fashion Designers

Their creativity knows no limits.

By Aria Darcella
Art, Collection, pinterest
Pintrest

There is an interesting connection between the worlds of fashion and architecture, where masters of each type of design have to consider elements of structure, form, and occasionally making the impossible feats of physics a reality. While there aren't too many designers who can do both (architecture requires some serious schooling), that doesn't mean there aren't a select few that have dipped their toes in both worlds. Here, CR's favourite designers, who went from dressing buildings to dressing the body.

Pierre Cardin

Black-and-white, Shoulder, Monochrome photography, Fashion, Model, Monochrome, Photography, Suit, Fashion design, Formal wear,
Pintrest

Pierre Cardin's name is often brought up in relation to design thanks to his structured silhouettes and his famed "Bubble Palace" house near Cannes. But did you know he briefly studied architecture when he first moved to Paris? Of course, it didn't last (Cardin quickly took up a job with the house of Paquin, before getting gigs at Schiaparelli and Dior), although in 2012 he nearly returned to practice, working with his nephew (an actual architect) to create a skyscraper in Venice. Unfortunately, the building was canceled a year later.

Tom Ford

Suit, Standing, Formal wear, Black-and-white, Fashion, Gesture, Photography, Interaction, Outerwear, Monochrome photography,
Pintrest

It's hard to imagine Tom Ford doing anything other than fashion. The designer even graduated from the famous New York fashion school Parsons, but with a degree in architecture. Luckily in his last year there he realised his true calling, and pursued the industry after graduating. "Architecture was just way too...serious," he once said. "I realised that fashion was the right balance between art and commerce, and that was it."

Virgil Abloh

Footwear, Furniture, Sitting, Desk, Room, Shoe, Fashion design, Stool,
Pintrest

Fans and fashion folk know that Virgil Abloh is a brilliant designer, but did you know he is essentially a straight-up genius? Abloh holds a degree in civil engineering as well as a masters degree in architecture. The true renaissance man that he is, his recent fashion success hasn't held Abloh back from accomplishing his original pursuits—he recently designed the Chicago restaurant Honey's.

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Thierry Mugler

Photograph, Snapshot, Black-and-white, Room, Photography, Monochrome, Architecture, Stock photography, Interior design, House,
Pintrest

"I am an architect who completely reinvents a woman's body," Thierry Mugler once said. He could not be more right—Mugler's corsets and tailoring transformed the body into angular shapes that brought his extreme fashion illustrations to life. With that in mind it's easy to see how his alleged architectural past helped shape how he looked at clothes. These days Mugler (who now goes by the first name Manfred) has turned his eye back on buildings, and is collaborating with the architecture firm +Cassia on a brand of luxury hotels.

Raf Simons

Clothing, Dress, Shoulder, Fashion, Leg, Fashion design, Long hair, Photography, Haute couture, Gown,
Pintrest

Ok, so Raf Simons didn't actually study architecture. But he didn't focus on anything fashion-related either—Calvin Klein's artistic director originally went to school for industrial and furniture design. He had a lot of friends in fashion, and even interned for Belgian designer Walter Van Beirendonck, who took him to his first-ever fashion show. Upon seeing the show (which was apparently Margiela), Simons knew he had to get into fashion. One can see how his education in form and textiles helped when crafting his trademark minimalist aesthetic.

Pierre Balmain

Photograph, Retro style, Beauty, Hairstyle, Black-and-white, Shoulder, Dress, Monochrome photography, Photography, Vintage clothing,
Pintrest

Pierre Balmain's first love was fashion, but to make his mother happy he briefly studied architecture at École des Beaux Arts. It didn't last—Balmain left to become an assistant to the Parisian couturier Lucien Lelong, and eventually opened up his own couture house. But one has to wonder if his early studies had an effect on his work in fashion, as when he finally opened his own couture house, Balmain became known for structured silhouettes and sleeves.

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Siki Im

Black, Jacket, Leather, Photograph, Leather jacket, Cool, Eyewear, Textile, Outerwear, Fashion,
Pintrest

Siki Im has had many creative pursuits, from his days as a teen photographer, to singing in a band. But the menswear designer almost didn't enter the world of fashion. After receiving a degree in architecture from Oxford, Im moved to New York to work for a firm. It was there that he was introduced to the world of fashion after meeting stylist David Vandewal. He hasn't completely left architecture—it's still part of his design studio, which he refers to as "interdisciplinary."

Mary Katranzou

Photography, Fashion design, Scientific instrument, White-collar worker, Employment,
Pintrest

Greek designer Mary Katranzou initially attended the Rhode Island School of Design for architecture, but she eventually transferred to Central Saint Martins in London to study fashion, where she earned a Masters degree. It was a smart move, as her graduation fashion show in 2008 launched her career. Katranzou is now carried in big-name department stores (like Saks) and chic boutiques (like Colette) alike.

Casey Cadwallader

Hair, Face, White, Chin, Photograph, Forehead, Hairstyle, Eyebrow, Neck, Jaw,
Arnaud Lajeunie / Mugler

When it was announced earlier this month that Casey Cadwallader would be taking over the house of Mugler, we learned an interesting bit of trivia—he, like the house's founder Mugler, had studied architecture before working in fashion. Cadwallader earned his degree from Cornell University, but an internship at Marc Jacobs changed his career path forever. Now, after 17 years in fashion, he is heading up the avant-garde French house.

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Carlos Garciavelez

Sitting, White-collar worker, Chin, Photography, Neck, Businessperson, Photo shoot,
Carlos Garciavelez

Carlos Garciavelez has quite the prestigious background. After earning a Bachelor of Fine Arts and a Bachelor of Architecture from the Rhode Island School of Design, he earned a Masters in Architecture from Harvard, where he taught for several years. Despite publishing two books about architecture, and lecturing at Harvard, Garciavelez somehow found the time to briefly work for Alexander McQueen in London, before opening his namesake menswear line in New York.

Zaha Hadid

Face, Black, White, Black-and-white, Nose, Head, Eye, Beauty, Portrait, Monochrome,
Pintrest

Obviously, the late Zaha Hadid did not leave her craft for fashion, but the famed architect did lend her talents to designing accessories. Hadid applied her signature style of curved silhouettes and an emphasis on lines in handbag collaborations with Louis Vuitton and Fendi, shoe collaborations with Adidas and Lacoste, and numerous jewellery collections.

From: AR Revista
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