CALL ME NINA
Victor Weinsanto's Punk Rock 2021 Collection
At just 26 years old, fashion wunderkind Victor Weinsanto is already making big waves.
Having studied under none other than Jean Paul Gaultier, Weinsanto’s aesthetic is all about free expression, with dashes of daring experimentalism and meticulous attention to detail thrown in for good measure. He worked with Gaultier on his 2018 “Fashion Freak Show” revue, and Gaultier attended Weinsanto’s inaugural fashion presentation last March.
Weinsanto lists Gaultier and Thierry Mugler as his biggest fashion influences, which makes total sense. Both designers are known for beautifully crafted clothes, and they aren’t afraid of throwing in a little darkness into their designs. Weinsanto has taken this idea and run with it, creating pieces that are, at the same time, soft and severe. He put his stamp on the concept by focusing on designs that emphasize movement.
Weinsanto’s background is in dance, having trained in classical ballet as a young boy in Strasbourg. He eventually found dance too restrictive creatively and shifted his knowledge to the freer creative world of design. Nowhere is this more clear than in his short film presentation for his Spring/Summer 2021 collection – “Call Me Nina.”
“Call Me Nina” is an ode to German singer Nina Hagen, a classically trained opera singer who applied her talents to the punk and New Wave movements in the 80s. It is where their connection is clear: both Weinsanto and Hagen were classically trained in their fields, but broke out of the mold and applied their talents to less restrictive worlds.
In the film, you’ll be able to understand the connection immediately. It almost feels like a horror film at first, with severe flashing lights and screaming models, but don’t worry – the fashion is on full display. Just like Weinsanto himself, the show is a mixture of punk, creativity, and beautiful artistry.
The film itself may not be for everyone, but hey – that’s punk rock.
