Interieur 2012: most design festival helpers are kitted out with branded T-shirts but staff at the Interieur design biennale in Kortrijk, Belgium, wore geometric uniforms by Norwegian designer Damien Fredriksen Ravn, inspired by the event's logo.
Above and top: photographs by Koen Vernimmen
The staff uniforms at Interieur were part of wider idea that this event should be better designed that other design fairs, as curator Lowie Vermeersch explained in an interview with Dezeen editor-in-chief Marcus Fairs - read a full transcript of the interview here.
Above: photograph by Koen Vernimmen
"I found the angular and geometric logo of the Biennale Interieur very inspiring," Ravn told Dezeen. "I love that it comes from the river flowing through the city, so I wanted to bring that into the design."
Above: photograph by Wouter van Vaerenbergh
The logo is incorporated into the kimono sleeves of the tunic and stretches up the shoulder to the neckline.
"It was very important for me not to sacrifice fashion to uniform, but it was also very important for me to keep the unisex approach - neither too male nor too female," Ravn explained.
Across the breast of the tunic a pattern of gradated triangles is printed onto white Spacer neoprene: a breathable fabric more commonly used in haute couture garments and underwear.
Metallic polyurethane is used on the neckline and for the storage pouch at the front of the garments.
Skirts and shorts are made from black coated jersey and all the fabric is raw-cut to "make it more modern and give it a younger approach", said Ravn. The outfits are completed with opaque black tights and Wulfrun Black Suede Single Sole shoes by British company Underground.
Ravn won a competition to design the uniforms titled Dress a Host(ess)!, which was a collaboration between Interieur and the Flanders Fashion Institute.
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