Interviews
Beate Karlsson – Funky Fashion Pushing Boundaries
Jemima Hunter
June 3, 2021
Twenty-six-year-old, Stockholm born fashion designer and creative director of Avavav, Beate Karlsson, is making fantasy into reality with her striking Finger Feet shoe design. The continuously changing, eccentric designs have been featured in Dazed, Paper Mag and Metal Magazine.
Growing up in Stockholm, she studied music and art during her teenage years and proceeded to undergo a fashion design course at the age of nineteen, in New York.
‘I’ve always had a love for music and art and when I moved to NYC, I sort of made the decision to focus on design. I love [to] make products, but it doesn’t necessarily have to be fashion.’ With a family of creatives pursuing film and music, Karlsson aspired to follow her passion in the industry.
Karlsson took her first steps into the design world, after she was offered internships at Vera Wang and Karl Lagerfeld, just a few years after arriving in the Big Apple. ‘I’d say it was around 22 that I started understanding what I wanted to do as a creative.’
The Florence based designer made a name for herself at the beginning of last year, for her ‘wearable replica of Kim Kardashian’s butt. It was a collaborative art project that I did together with the artist duo Ida-Simon.’ The 3D rubbery design quickly gained recognition as Karlsson continued to experiment with new moulds and iconic designs. ‘I think you can reach interesting silhouettes by disfiguring anatomical forms. I often end up with a hand shape for a shoe or a boob shaped bag and so on.’
Karlsson’s quirky designs don’t end there, as she proceeded to have her finger feet designs plastered all over social media. The wacky products are made from wood fibres and silicone that mimic animal claws, human hands and ogre feet. With additional frilly sliders and a silicone extending strap that holds the shoes in place, the outlandish designs are not only photo worthy but practical too.
‘We didn’t know what the response on the Finger Feet boots would be, but we’re amazed by how many people wants to actually buy and wear them.’
Sustainability is an element the Swedish designer has always strived to include in her unique makes. Known for the constant use of silicon in her work, Karlsson exclaims ‘Silicone is a fairly sustainable material, it’s better than plastic in terms of resource extraction. It’s non-toxic, recyclable and very durable.’
Karlsson and her iconic ‘playfullyawkward’ wearables continue to push the boundaries in the fashion industry with an aim to ‘keep creating more wacky products that make me smile, so I’m hoping our future will be full of creative freedom!’
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