A Look Inside Haider Ackermann's World

“Unapologetic opulence” pretty accurately describes the style that Haider Ackermann is known for, with designs epitomizing aristocratic and luxurious fashion, however done with a certain ease. His decadent style and aesthetic has garnered him a cult following, with celebrity approval to match. The Colombian-born designer successfully treads the line of ease without being boring, by elevating basic pieces to take on new meaning. Embracing luxury and a masterful palette of colors, Buro24/7 talks to Haider Ackermann about his brand and his design process.

Is there a difference in your approach in designing for men and women?
There’s a certain easiness to designing for men; it’s less calculated, which gives me more freedom. Perhaps with the woman I’m thinking it through more, because she is more of a stranger to me. Even if she is close to me, the men’s comes more naturally. I’m very close to him.

Is the man you? Is it someone you love? A combination?
It is someone I would like to be. When I see all those boys with tattoos [many of Ackermann's male models are heavily tattooed], I find it absolutely romantic. That kind of romance doesn’t exist anymore because we don’t write each other letters. I wish I had the courage to have the names of my lovers memorised in words. Every boy told me every story about his tattoos. It was really like reading someone’s diary.

It seems like every designer now is making Instagram-friendly clothes, very graphic, with big slogans. You are in no rush to do that.
I don’t use Instagram, so I don’t know that language yet. I put my creative energy elsewhere. But, I have nothing against it. For instance, I have this sweatshirt, which has the word “Dream” on it. And every time I feel moody, I like to put that sweatshirt on because that word just lifts me up a little bit. Strange, isn’t it?

Colors play a very important part in your work, don’t they?
You know when I started designing, there was almost no colour at all. I always wanted to be a very discreet person. I was always searching for that person at a party who would be standing in the corner. Not a person attracting light. But I have a background that is very rich of colour, that was rich of gold. All those countries I have been to. So, I wanted to translate it. But I also wanted the colours to be very deep, profound. When it’s red, it has to be blood red. When it’s blue, it has to be the midnight blue.