Charlotte Christen

Grey Sheep

@charlottecchristen

Location

basel / switzerland

University

Institute of Fashion Design, Academy of Arts and Design, FHNW University of Applied Sciences and Arts Northwestern Switzerland.

Graduation year

2023

Main Manufacturing Countries

switzerland

Contact

I was born in Amsterdam, lived in Germany for a while and then came to Switzerland.
Here I finished my schooling and started studying fashion design, which I successfully completed in February 2023.

fashion is my means of expression. since i was sixteen i like dressing up and I started sewing my own clothes so i can dress the way i want. i see clothes as my second skin that envelops me, strengthens me and gives me courage. when i design i find peace and tranquillity. i love to create my universe, which i want to share with others to inspire. as i am inspired by others.

Latest Collection

"das mädchen mit der zweiten haut auf der suche nach einer Dritten"

LIVE IS UNDER AND OVER AND CLOTHES ARE MY SECOND SKIN, MY HOME, MEMORIES WITH WHICH I WALK THROUGH IT.
I SEE CLOTHES AS MY SECOND SKIN, MY SECURITY, MY SAFE SPACE, MY MEANS OF EXPRESSION.
AS A THIRD SKIN IN THE FORM OF A HOME THAT GROWS OUT INTO SPACE. ENVELOPS ME, SURROUNDS ME, GIVES ME STRENGTH, IRRITATES ME. FILLING A ROOM WITH COLOUR, DECORATING IT. A PROTECTIVE COVER THAT I CAN PUT ON MYSELF, DEFORMS MY BODY, RESHAPES IT, SO THAT I DON'T HAVE TO BE ME AND AT THE SAME TIME BE THE ME THAT I WANT TO BE.

THIS WORK IS ABOUT BIG GESTURES AND SMALL INCONSPICUOUS SHIFTS. CLOTHES ON THE BODY, IN SPACE, FALSE CLOTHES, OBJECTS, HATS AND pigtails. IT'S ABOUT HIDING AND BEING SEEN. OCCUPYING SPACE, SHARING SPACE AND CREATING SPACES. CREATING DREAMS AND FULFILLING WISHES.

IT'S ABOUT A GREAT CONFUSION IN LIFE, CHAOS AND ANGER, AS WELL AS SADNESS.
HOLES IN THE CHEST, IN THE HEART AND IN THE CLOTHES.
LAYERS UPON LAYERS OF CLOTHES, DIVISIBLE SYSTEMS, CONNECTED BY BUTTONS, SEPARABLE, DETACHABLE. THUS ALSO ABOUT LETTING GO, SEPARATION AND FAREWELL.
VOLUMES THAT EMERGE, SHIFTS. HABITS OF SEEING THAT I WANT TO QUESTION AND REDEFINE OR NOT DEFINE AT ALL.

I DRESS, I UNDRESS. WHAT IS UNDERNEATH? WHAT IS BEHIND?
WHAT IS IN FRONT?
IS THERE A FRONT AND A BACK, A TOP AND A BOTTOM? I STAND ON MY HEAD, IN A HANDSTAND. SEEING LIFE UPSIDE DOWN, WEARING MY CLOTHES BACKWARDS. A COLOURFUL PROTECTIVE COVER THAT ENVELOPS AND STRENGTHENS ME.

WHAT IS UNDER THE CLOTHES WHEN THERE IS NO SKIN?
STUFFED PARTS, MEMORIES, A SECOND LAYER OF SKIN. A SKIN WITH TRACES OF MEMORIES, OR SIMPLY FEELINGS, BODY PARTS, FABRIC, COLOUR AND PILLOWS?

RAGE AND BEING ANGRY, SYSTEMS AND RULES THAT CONFINE ME, SEEM UNCHANGEABLE. I WANT TO SCREAM, DANCE AND RAGE, HAVE ENERGY, CREATE CHANGE. I AM AFRAID OF BECOMING THE SYSTEM I WANT TO CHANGE. TO BECOME SOMETHING AT ALL. TO BECOME AN ADULT.
BUT HOW, WHERE AND WHEN?

WHERE IS MY INNER CHILD NOW? HOW CAN WE LIVE TOGETHER?
IT WANTS TO BE SEEN, WANTS TO BREAK OUT, RUN AROUND AND CHANGE.
BRING COLOUR INTO A GREY LIFE, IRRITATE INSPIRE.