MADE IN: Maximilian Raynor

WHERE IT'S MADE? Where do your favourite emerging fashion designers make their extraordinary pieces.

Meet Maxi, owner of Maximilian Raynor

BIO: Maximilian Raynor is a recent graduate from Central Saint Martins’ BA Fashion course. Over the past two years the Derbyshire-born designer has garnered substantial press, editorial and celebrity interest in their designs, dressing music artists Ellie Goulding, Rita Ora and Shygirl, among many others. Raynor’s graduate collection, titled ‘The Ballad of Two Lovers’ premiered with Perfect Magazine, was featured in both British and Italian Vogue and walked the runway in Rwanda for a show hosted by King Charles III. Notable features of the collection include The Pirelli Calendar styled by Amanda Harlech and on Stefflon Don for the Platinum Jubilee Concert at Buckingham Palace.

THE AIM:  To explore where standout pieces that you see on social media and in fashion weeks are actually made and to hear the reality and experience, of a young fashion designer in a critical and often demanding industry.

The full interview is available to stream on YouTube 

INTERVIEW SUMMARY

What do you think makes you stand out as a designer?

I think it's very gender fluid, historical, colourful and

there's a lot of energy to what I do;  and I hope that that feels exciting.

But I also speak about the fact that we don't all have to be obsessed with being

completely new.

We're all here doing what we love and that's more important I think.

What inspires your work?

I’ll often be inspired by a book I've read or a film I've seen, and then I build my own story around that. Or I’ll take the best element of a character, and then build a story which inspires a design.

What was your most difficult moment as a designer?

It depends at what age. The most in my head I ever was was when I was trying to

get into Central Saint Martins. That was really bad for my mental health, like I was so obsessed with it. Getting into CSM was definitely the hardest part.

(Interviewer: “But you got in ”)

Yeah but second try or third try, if you count the time I applied without a foundation.

What is your price range? 

My business model in general is quite different..

It's mainly Hire and Rental only at the moment, and then made to order custom pieces.

Items can range from 100 quid for the night, or some kind of amazing Bridal couture could be three grand plus.

What projects are you currently working on?

I'm working towards the hotel for heaven which will be my Saint Martin's collection.

It’s an exploration of all my favourite characters in the context of like the waiting ground for heaven whatever that means to you.

(Interviewer: “Purgatory?”)

Yeah exactly it's just a space where maybe people haven't got in because they don't fit the mould of what is accepted in society.

That the new collection which comes out in February.

If you could dress anyone Dead or Alive who would it be? 

Great question;  I would love to dress David Bowie, obviously that's not going to happen.

Tilda Swinton 

Emma Corrin

These people that are playing that line between gender and it feels really fresh to me 

End

The full interview is available to stream on YouTube

Join our community to stay connected, and hear about NICHE private events.