Inspiration from India

In my work as a stylist, I get very inspired by traveling. And one of my favourite places is India. I always get so surprised by the way Indians use colours. There are colours everywhere – and even the dirt is red. It’s fascinating and almost overwhelming, how even in the slums you will find doors painted shocking pink or bright blue and women, though very poor, are dressed beautifully intensely coloured saries – red, purple, green or yellow.

The contrasts that exist in India between the beautiful and the ugly, makes me see things from a different perspective.

What also fascinates me are all the small, independent shop keepers, you find on every street corner in every city, big or small. The shoe-makers are sitting, legs crossed, on the pavement working flat on the ground repairing everything from flip flops and sneakers to wedding shoes. It seems like they can fix every type of shoe. Next to the shoe-makers you have the watchmakers and the guys who grind knives. In India the old trades are still in business, whereas in Denmark, they are a dying breed.

I like the idea of going to a specialist to get a personal and qualified service you would only get from someone who is a specialist in their own field. I like it so much more than walking into a big warehouse where I’m just an anonymous customer.

Still, there is a rising trend of small, specialized shops popping up all around Denmark. I so wish, it’s more than a trend. Because, there is nothing more satisfying than visiting and buying something from a shop owner, who is dedicated and passionate about his or her products.

And that’s why, I simply love visiting the tailors and fabric shops in India, where every shop-keeper gives you their full attention and will present their products to you with pride and passion. The same sort of passion I love to experience from the exhibitors at the CPH Kids Fashion Fair.

It increases my creativity and makes me feel much more aware when doing my styles for photo shoots.