The
Storyteller
Interview with Marianna Barksdale
Anything can tell a story- or become a story. Take for example, a simple music box. What if the music box- after being smashed- released the delicate ballerina locked inside. What if the music box and the ballerina became knowing? What if they fell in love? “I have along way to go on that actually... well I have the sketches,” says Marianna. “I'm working on it for future release right now, and the way that my schedule has been going lately, in a very good way, it might be later this year. I want to be able to do it right.”
Music Box Hero is Marianna's upcoming illustrated publication. Marianna's talent clearly extends far beyond her magnificent and intense creations wrought from fabric and unique materials. But then, this is the mind of a storyteller. Like a folk musician of fashion, the message is far more important than the technicalities. However, she definitely has mastered the technique.
Music Box Hero is Marianna's upcoming illustrated publication. Marianna's talent clearly extends far beyond her magnificent and intense creations wrought from fabric and unique materials. But then, this is the mind of a storyteller. Like a folk musician of fashion, the message is far more important than the technicalities. However, she definitely has mastered the technique.
C: Do you have a favorite narrative to tell through your design?
MB: I never thought about it that way before. I feel like most of the stories that I tell are generally a story of overcoming something. Then the clothes are like the quotient of solving a problem. They're supposed to be the answer to a problem, and generally, I guess it goes back to wanting to protect someone. It depends on what I'm protecting them from. So in the story it's generally like the odyssey- like an epic. Very very big fan of epics.
C: What is your favorite book that you have read?
MB: That’s difficult. I love reading- probably too much. I'm a very big fan of Haruki Murakami. A Hard-Boiled Wonderland and the End of the World. Right now I'm reading his new book called 1Q84. It's probably my favorite book that I'm reading right now. Honestly my favorite book of all time is probably Ella Enchanted- which I read countless times when I was a kid- it’s a children's book- and for some reason the story that that girl goes through, it's like an epic, and it's very much the way my work is.
MB: I never thought about it that way before. I feel like most of the stories that I tell are generally a story of overcoming something. Then the clothes are like the quotient of solving a problem. They're supposed to be the answer to a problem, and generally, I guess it goes back to wanting to protect someone. It depends on what I'm protecting them from. So in the story it's generally like the odyssey- like an epic. Very very big fan of epics.
C: What is your favorite book that you have read?
MB: That’s difficult. I love reading- probably too much. I'm a very big fan of Haruki Murakami. A Hard-Boiled Wonderland and the End of the World. Right now I'm reading his new book called 1Q84. It's probably my favorite book that I'm reading right now. Honestly my favorite book of all time is probably Ella Enchanted- which I read countless times when I was a kid- it’s a children's book- and for some reason the story that that girl goes through, it's like an epic, and it's very much the way my work is.
"
I usually use about a ream of paper-
like hundreds of sheets of paper." -Marianna |
C: Do you have a specific method of creation when you create your designs?
MB: I feel like my designs are a lot of thinking. I'll think over the whole collection for weeks and weeks, and not necessarily sketch anything. Then one day it'll come in a day, and then all of them will get sketched. And when I say all of them, I usually use about a ream of paper- like hundreds of sheets of paper. I try not to do anything with just a whim because that’s the way I like to make my life's decisions. So I like to keep them separate. In fact, The 13 Assassins was sewn by myself, and they all came in about two weeks. |
C: Do you follow any sports, and if so, do you have a particular sport that you follow, or a particular player of the sport that you follow?
MB: Yes, actually my older brother was a major league baseball player. He was on the Pittsburgh Pirates. But I follow the San Francisco Giants- a baseball team, and I'm obsessed with their closing pitcher Brian Wilson and his beard. If you Google this, it's like a huge thing- Brian Wilson's beard. I like kid prodigy pitcher Tim Lincecum, and I would spell it if I could but they're incredible. I don't know- something about sports I really like because, I just like watching these people accomplish these feats in a short amount of time. It's fun- it kind of relates to my design process. I like the power with it, but I don't think I follow any other sports, I think it's just baseball. I like the idea that you can eat cotton candy at the game, and I love cotton candy. So anytime I can eat cotton candy, I'm pretty much on-board.
MB: Yes, actually my older brother was a major league baseball player. He was on the Pittsburgh Pirates. But I follow the San Francisco Giants- a baseball team, and I'm obsessed with their closing pitcher Brian Wilson and his beard. If you Google this, it's like a huge thing- Brian Wilson's beard. I like kid prodigy pitcher Tim Lincecum, and I would spell it if I could but they're incredible. I don't know- something about sports I really like because, I just like watching these people accomplish these feats in a short amount of time. It's fun- it kind of relates to my design process. I like the power with it, but I don't think I follow any other sports, I think it's just baseball. I like the idea that you can eat cotton candy at the game, and I love cotton candy. So anytime I can eat cotton candy, I'm pretty much on-board.
" ...it basically made itself.
That piece wanted to be made. " -Marianna |
C: In the Sessions magazine Issue 4, there’s this black top that you created that’s very very interesting. It has this asymmetrical fit and this build up of layers. What was the story behind this, what was the thought process behind this, how did you create that?
MB: That was one of my favorite pieces I ever made, mainly because it basically made itself. That piece wanted to be made. It's in the 13 Assassins collection as a limited edition piece. I didn't feel bad putting it in the 13 Assassins collection later because it’s a limited edition and it’s the same theme. But yeah, that is mostly hand-stitched. That’s my baby. |
C: What gives you that drive just to continue through and make everything work and to make sure it works well?
MB: Oh, I love this question. I think I'm going to reiterate just because I'm sort of obsessed with this part of my design process. A lot of the drive is just because I feel like I want to protect the people that I am clothing. I'm not completely sure where the drive comes from, really. I guess what drives me is I like to complete the idea, I like to create the narrative. I guess it’s the same way someone is driven to make a film, they want to convey an idea. They think they have a new way of telling a story, or a new vision, or a different way of saying the same thing that someone has said already. Somebody told me once that there’s only 39 stories in the world, and everyone just retells them in different ways. That’s kind of the way I like to think about design. Because you know, a lot of the time, you'll see a dress or something and someone will go 'oh that’s obviously inspired by...' or something, and you know that makes me upset in a way. Because I'm like, no you don't understand it's designed this way because that’s the shape of the arm, and this fabric technique was used because that was the traditional technique that they used or something. But it just ends up, you know, in an echo of a former piece as well, not necessarily by any choice.
MB: Oh, I love this question. I think I'm going to reiterate just because I'm sort of obsessed with this part of my design process. A lot of the drive is just because I feel like I want to protect the people that I am clothing. I'm not completely sure where the drive comes from, really. I guess what drives me is I like to complete the idea, I like to create the narrative. I guess it’s the same way someone is driven to make a film, they want to convey an idea. They think they have a new way of telling a story, or a new vision, or a different way of saying the same thing that someone has said already. Somebody told me once that there’s only 39 stories in the world, and everyone just retells them in different ways. That’s kind of the way I like to think about design. Because you know, a lot of the time, you'll see a dress or something and someone will go 'oh that’s obviously inspired by...' or something, and you know that makes me upset in a way. Because I'm like, no you don't understand it's designed this way because that’s the shape of the arm, and this fabric technique was used because that was the traditional technique that they used or something. But it just ends up, you know, in an echo of a former piece as well, not necessarily by any choice.
C: When you create something- especially when you use unique materials- are you still trying to stick to your aesthetic of being able to tell a story through your designs?
MB: Yes, in fact, most of the time, the materials are based on the narrative itself. When I used the construction tape, it was actually a narrative that I created in my head about a girl who is rebuilding her life, and so I used a lot of building materials- which is where the tape came in. So a lot of times it comes from the story itself and then I just go from there. And then with the dryer sheets, it was a gown, and I dyed them all blue so it was this giant dress made out of blue dryer sheets and it was supposed to represent a whirl pool at the end of the world. And that collection was based on a Haruki Murakami book- A Hard-Boiled Wonderland and the End of the World. The big whirlpool at the end is a huge part of the story, so it directly comes from the narrative. It's never just a haphazard... I don't know how to do anything haphazardly. |
"I don't know how to do anything haphazardly."
-Marianna
C: When and where should we expect to be able to purchase your upcoming line. 13 Assassins- is that your most current line, or do you have something new that’s coming out that the public does not know about that you can reveal something about?
MB: Hm, well, let me start with the first side of that. It will be a limited production because this is my first ready-to-wear season. So I'm just getting into production, so I don't wanna take it too far. So yes, those details will be revealed soon. Then... what else is coming up? The new collection will be starting- my spring/ summer 2013- you know, granted that the world doesn't end in October. (Laughter) I should be like 'yeah there is something, but I'm not going to tell you what it is!' (Laughter) Yeah that’s it. That’s my answer...
C: What words of inspiration and wisdom would you have for the next generation of designers seeking to be as successful?
MB: Oh God, don't give up. The earlier the better- promise. I read this quote by Ira Glass a long time ago and it really encompassed it really well. (quote) He was talking about, how every successful person is years in the making. And you don't see everything that went into what they did to become who they are. I've had to look for a lot of motivation and a lot of inspiration through TED talks and Lady Gaga interviews. I love inspiration to keep me going, so I guess it's just- don't give up.
C: Sometimes you have to go through that period of time where you're the only one who knows where the end of the path is. That takes real determination to continue until you reach your goal.
MB: Yes, and that has been a very important part of me in particular because none of my family, until me, has ever done anything with art or design or anything. My family is very medical and sports and airplanes. Everything but art and design, so they have been a big help in just being supportive. So I, after so many years have made something that they can see and it's tangible. Thank goodness I have people behind me that have faith. □
MB: Hm, well, let me start with the first side of that. It will be a limited production because this is my first ready-to-wear season. So I'm just getting into production, so I don't wanna take it too far. So yes, those details will be revealed soon. Then... what else is coming up? The new collection will be starting- my spring/ summer 2013- you know, granted that the world doesn't end in October. (Laughter) I should be like 'yeah there is something, but I'm not going to tell you what it is!' (Laughter) Yeah that’s it. That’s my answer...
C: What words of inspiration and wisdom would you have for the next generation of designers seeking to be as successful?
MB: Oh God, don't give up. The earlier the better- promise. I read this quote by Ira Glass a long time ago and it really encompassed it really well. (quote) He was talking about, how every successful person is years in the making. And you don't see everything that went into what they did to become who they are. I've had to look for a lot of motivation and a lot of inspiration through TED talks and Lady Gaga interviews. I love inspiration to keep me going, so I guess it's just- don't give up.
C: Sometimes you have to go through that period of time where you're the only one who knows where the end of the path is. That takes real determination to continue until you reach your goal.
MB: Yes, and that has been a very important part of me in particular because none of my family, until me, has ever done anything with art or design or anything. My family is very medical and sports and airplanes. Everything but art and design, so they have been a big help in just being supportive. So I, after so many years have made something that they can see and it's tangible. Thank goodness I have people behind me that have faith. □
Interview and article by Copeland/ Esthétique Magazine 2012