Interview with Fashion Designer Myriam Von Rohmy, Founder of Rohmy Couture : Retro Kolkata Magazine

All my collections embrace the female body combining either classical or modern and asymmetrical silhouettes with my signature hand braided stripes. Apart from that I make the dresses as comfortable as possible, because one of the most important things for me is the functionality and wear comfort of the design. I want you to be able to wear them all day and dance all night without to feel uncomfortable. Everything is handmade in Germany and will be made in the customers measurements with no limitations in size.

RK : First of all thanks a lot for accepting our invitation for an interview. it’s a great pleasure to have you as our Guest. Let’s start from the first question… Let’s have a jump into the past. What was your dream since you were a kid? …what would you like to do? Myriam Von Rohmy : Thank you very much for inviting me for an interview, it´s a great pleasure! When I was a kid, I already made clothes for my dolls and loved to play in my great aunt’s sewing room, however I wanted to become an animal doctor and my favourite hobby was to breed rabbits, guinea pigs, guppies and water turtles! Another dream was to become a musician like my parents are, I play instruments since I am 3 years old. I still can´t live without music and spend my rare free time watching animal documentaries, but I decided to make fashion not music or animals my career choice at last.

RK : When did you first realize you wanted to pursue a career as a designer? Myriam Von Rohmy : It started as a hobby: When I was a student I was in the goth scene, and as a 14 years old ‘Grufti’ I simply had no money to spend on expensive scene fashion and started to make my own fancy clothes from fabrics and vintage clothes I´ve found at flea markets. I received many compliments and requests for my dresses and when I finished school I decided to make this hobby a profession.

RK : What is most challenging about a career in fashion design? Myriam Von Rohmy : First of all there are only a few jobs compared to the huge number of graduates from design colleges and talented autodidacts. As an aspiring designer you are often exploited by bigger companies and need quite some perseverance to meet your target. I could tell lots of stories of myself and fellow designers going from unpaid internship to unpaid internship after their graduation. Next thing is that you are consistently facing deadlines when you have to finish a piece or a whole collection, which means you have to work all day and night including the weekends again and again. Personally I consider the biggest challenge as a self-employed designer not to act as an artist only but also to be a businesswoman. Running my own small business means that it doesn´t work without good organisation and time managment. Being creative is actually the easiest part. I have to spend lots of time with doing paper work and being up-to-date with all the laws and regulations we have in the EU and Germany. Meeting these things requires quite some time (or money to pay someone to do it for you). As essential as talent are patience, discipline and assertiveness.

RK : Your designs are very creative, where do you get the inspiration for your designs? Myriam Von Rohmy : I find inspiration in nature, art, fairytales and ancient places I love to visit. Some months ago I became a mother for the first time what inspired me to design a little maternity collection which will be published soon.

RK : Out of all of your designs to date, what would you consider your personal favourite and why? Myriam Von Rohmy : The first Dragonfly wedding dress of my ‘Eden’ collection as it represents my first try to create a recognizable figurative form made of ropework. It took some time to figure out how to make it not only look beautiful but also to work in motion. I was very proud once I´ve finished it and decided to make a whole collection featuring stylized animals and plants in the designs.

RK : Today, Rohmy Couture is a familiar name in fashion around the globe. Could you please tell us a bit about the evolution of the brand? Myriam Von Rohmy : First I graduated in textile technology, then graduated as a custom tailor and eventually studied fashion design and started my label ROHMY right after my final degree. In the beginning I made a living with creating historical costumes and uniforms for reenactment groups, museums and TV- Documentaries. I already designed some of my signature pieces with the braided rope work at this time but didn´t sell many of them. Eventually I photographed and published my first collection „Sirens“ including these early designs on an online page for fashion designers and just a few days later I found that my work has been discovered and shared by some fashion blogs & magazines, what helped to reach the first international customers. Very helpful to reach more people were cooperation with other creative like musicians who wore my designs on stage or in videos. Also fashion shows & photo shoots with talented photographers in different countries helped to grow the brand. Today I make bespoke dresses for customers all around the world.

RK : In your own words, how would you describe the signature/classic Rohmy style? Myriam Von Rohmy : It is a modern yet timeless style. I use to drape and fold layers of fabric over curves, and apply braided rope work to accentuate the female form and to create figurative design details like for example animals or flowers. A magazine once wrote that „if you transported a grecian goddess into the modern days , introduced her to the world of shibari and asked her to design clothes you would get the creations of ROHMY Couture“, what I think is a good description. All my collections embrace the female body combining either classical or modern and asymmetrical silhouettes with my signature hand braided stripes. Apart from that I make the dresses as comfortable as possible, because one of the most important things for me is the functionality and wear comfort of the design. I want you to be able to wear them all day and dance all night without to feel uncomfortable. Everything is handmade in Germany and will be made in the customers measurements with no limitations in size.

RK : So let’s talk about your ‘Eden’ Collection, which is stunning. What’s your top pick from the ‘Eden’ collection? Myriam Von Rohmy : Thank you! Again, the Dragonfly dress is my top pick as it was the first design of this collection. But what I love even more is that customers often ask me to make them a custom piece with their favourite animal or flower created from rope, because I love the challenge to create their unique piece in my typical signature style.

RK : Can you name a celebrity look you’ve loved in your designs? Myriam Von Rohmy : I really loved Danish singer Myrkur wearing my designs on stage some time ago. If I could wish for someone else to wear my creations I would love to see Cate Blanchett in one of my elegant & classical designs and Tilda Swinton in a design of my avantgardistic/ edgy collection.

RK : Are you more intuitive or more analytical when you are designing? Myriam Von Rohmy : Intuitive.

RK : What skills according to you are necessary for a successful fashion designer? Myriam Von Rohmy : Talent, creativity, vision, knowledge about how to realize what you`ve designed, patience, discipline and self confidence.

RK : We (Retro Kolkata) are trying to build one single stage for all the artists, because we believe that artists are the most beautiful creation of God and geographical boundary can never break their unity and harmony. Please say something about our initiative and any special message for your followers Myriam Von Rohmy : I think it is a wonderful and important initiative because giving artists a platform to show and talk about their work helps them to spread their art to a bigger audience, what is essential to help them to get discovered and emerge. To my followers I want to say „thank you“ – everyone who is following/liking/commenting or sharing my work helps me to make it possible to work in my dream job and I am very greatful for this.