Interview with the designer George Keburia

Everything interesting in the fashion world now seems coming from Georgia and George is an example of creativity and passion made in Tbilisi. Here’s our exclusive interview, in the gallery above his latest collection.

When and how you decided that you wanted to be a designer?

I have been sketching since childhood. I would even sketch at the back of my notebook during my classes and dream of becoming a fashion designer. One day I heard about a designer contest and decided to participate. I had no experience or education in this field, I did the whole collection by hand and I won.

It was your dream job?

Yes, I was dreaming to become a designer from childhood. Also, I wanted to be a professional tennis player, but then I decided that I was a better player at fashion.

Which is the first thing you designed and for who (yourself,a friend…)?

I was sketching for my favorite celebrities and dreaming for them to wear my clothes. I still have that anticipation  What I actually did was a three-headed piece for contest. The piece was unwearable but after too much effort, I made it wearable. That was my first experience of designing.

Who’s the designer you admire the most and why?

Nicolas Ghesquière has been a revolutionary designer for a very long time for me, especially when he was a creative director at Balenciaga. What I loved the most is that his textures, shapes and aesthetic were very unexpected each time. J.W. Anderson is also one of the designers I admire.

Who’s your muse, your icon, when you create a dress?

I do not have a specific muse, it can be a different person on every collection or even on every piece. I never get an inspiration from a person, whom I do not know personally.

If you had to design an entire collection using just one color, which is the one you’d pick and why?

It pretty much depends on my mood. If you asked me this question yesterday or tomorrow, maybe I would have picked a different color, but today I will pick fuchsia.

Who’s the first person you show your sketches to?

I have two friends that I can ask opinion on my collection; one is a stylist and second is a designer.

The fabric you love the most…silk, lace, velvet and why?

I love mixing different fabrics in one piece, but mostly I use thicker fabrics.

If your clothes had a soundtrack, which songs you’d choose?

Soundtracks vary from collection to collection. On my last collection, I would choose John Maus – Hey Moon. I have not decided on a soundtrack for my next collection yet.

Do you have any trick to avoid that “blank page” moment when you’re at the beginning of the designing of a new collection? Do you watch a movie, flip an old magazine…

I usually listen to music and I like to discover new songs during this process. Music inspires and helps me the most. Sometimes I add alcohol to the equation.

If you weren’t a designer which job in the fashion world you would like to do and why?

Fashion stylist.

Bio: George Keburia is a self-taught designer, born in 1990 Tbilisi, Georgia. He founded his fun-loving eponymous label in 2010, presenting a surrealist collection saturated with fantastical references and outlandish concepts.

George Keburia was awarded the ‘Best Newcomer’ Award at Tbilisi Fashion Week. Two years later, Keburia achieved international recognition with his collection “Bird Nest”, winning the design contest Be Next 2012 in Tbilisi and the Community’s Choice Muuse x Vogue Talents Vision Award.

The style of his creations has evolved considerably since the beginnings. In 2013, George became a designer at Fashion House Materiel and created apparel for the brand for two years. Currently, George Keburia focuses on his own label, making more wearable clothing with an emphasis on masculine tailoring and subtle feminine finishes.