I like to keep things tidy. I can’t work if things around me are messy, disorganised, and become chaotic. Even the things I pin to my boards are pinned properly, and in some order. I grew up in Belgrade, and apparently even when I was a little girl I was very tidy. I was born with it. I believe that all the elements of your personality eventually end up in your work. So my fashion designs have strong architectural elements, colour blocking and structure. It’s the same in the office. I am a perfectionist.
This is the place where I do most of my design work. We are on the top floor and there is a lovely terrace that wraps around it, with lots of light. The view is of the canal in Shoreditch. It’s an urban landscape – lots of rooftops and council blocks, and an incredible sky. The sky in London is amazing – fluorescent pink and orange and stormy grey. I spend most of my day inside and don’t have a chance to enjoy nature, so it’s nice to have that connection through the window.
Roksanda Ilincic’s studio, complete with ‘uncomfortable’ white chairs.Photograph: David Levene
On the board behind me you can see the inspiration for my AW15 collection. Also on the board are the artists I’m into right now .
I love to start the creative process by looking at art. I am drawn to artists who love the same thing as I do. I recently came across a young Canadian artist called Lara King who creates beautiful minimal sculptures out of torn and folded paper.
I find inspiration everywhere, and have a passion for colour. For one collection, I paired orange with yellow after seeing it on a crane on a building site. Building sites are inspiring because they’re full of bright primaries. I like plastic packaging and boxes and unrecycled things. My Instagram is full of it.
My office is mostly white, with pops of colour, which allows me to think about colour in my work. All the furniture blends in. I have a simple white desk and white chairs. When it comes to design, I always choose looks over comfort. I am happy to sit on an uncomfortable chair all day as long as it looks beautiful.
Roksanda Ilincic’s studio, complete with ‘uncomfortable’ white chairs. Photograph: David Levene
