Okay so this is 100% inspired by @lafemmedezemo and the logo design they made for Suitkovia, and I’m pretty pleased with how this turned out
I ended up writing a full interview for this and designing the pages because I’m now obsessed with fashion designer!Zemo
I’ll probably now write a oneshot with interviewer!reader and fashion designer!Zemo
Tumblr will probably make the quality awful so I’ll put the interview I wrote under the cut
We sat down with Baron Helmut Zemo to talk about his latest collection from the brand that has the whole world talking - Suitkovia.
It’s hardly surprising that I’m one of very few patrons present in the artisan coffee bar that’s two blocks from my apartment, given that it’s half past eight in the morning on a blustery Sunday morning. The cool autumn morning light casts a cheery orange glow through the branches of the trees adorning the sidewalk as I continue typing away at my laptop. The server places a well needed coffee in front of me as the Baron arrives. He’s dressed impeccably, in a black turtleneck with dress pants, toned down with a casual check jacket that I recognise from his upcoming collection (Bonded Check Bomber Jacket, Suitkovia, $395). His handshake is firm, his smile dazzlingly polite as I introduce myself, and he insists I call him Helmut. He orders confidently, as if he’s been here before, though I seriously doubt that the little coffee shop in my neighbourhood is a frequent haunt for the Sokovian Baron. I compliment him on his jacket, before telling him that it’s one of my favourite pieces from his new collection. His face immediately lights up once he realises I’ve recognised his work, which he later explains is due to a few previous interviewers who have supposedly gushed over his work only to not actually know much about his newest collections. This makes me incredibly pleased that I did my homework.
Suitkovia is first and foremost a proud Sokovian brand. They value the hard work and dedication of designers, factory workers, and textile farmers. With Sokovia’s turbulent history, the Baron’s determination to build a strong business that can provide employment for the people of Sokovia whilst also honouring the country’s heritage is admirable. He explains how he inherited this drive from his father. Baron Heinrich Zemo had always believed in providing for the Sokovian people, after his untimely passing, his son has managed to uphold his father’s beliefs while establishing a Sokovia that is ready for the modern world. Helmut tells me how pleased he is that he’s managed to make his father proud without needing to abandon his own ambitions and passions.
Helmut has always had an interest in fashion. He tells me how incredibly close he is to his mother. How, as a small child, he would sit and watch her assemble her outfits and that it wasn’t long before he was making sure his opinions were heard. “She has always wanted to be a designer.” He tells me, with a fond smile on his face. “Every time I go home, the furniture has been moved or the walls are a different colour. She’s always trying to be creative in that sense.” When I ask him if he’s inherited that trait he laughs softly. “I’m afraid my home is currently rather bleak looking, having only just moved in during the last month.” I ask him how he’s finding the move over the Atlantic. He seems excited for this new chapter, though he doesn’t forget his roots as our conversations nearly always come back to his home in Sokovia. The love for his country shines in his voice and the enthusiasm of which he tells his stories. He tells me about his latest collection, Made in Sokovia, which draws inspiration from the country’s own history of fashion. A number of elements reflect the militaristic and functional style of the uniforms of Sokovia's armed forces during the 1940s.
I make my admiration for his work and his values very clear as we talk, and he seems genuinely delighted at the praise. He also admits that he’s surprised by the success he’s garnered within the last year. He then adds that he knows his work is good, but he doesn’t come off as cocky or self-absorbed. He has the kind of confidence gained from the knowledge that you are good at what you do and care for the people who have supported you. Suitkovia has expanded its reach dramatically, so he has every right to be confident. The brand began as a small company, operating exclusively in Eastern Europe, and has quickly established itself as a staple in the wardrobes of an increasing number of A-list celebrities. Helmut Zemo has suddenly become a well known name in fashion. When I ask him about his thoughts regarding his sudden spot in the limelight he doesn’t seem overly phased by it. He’s grown up in the public eye of Sokovia, whilst gaining a more global interest is a large change from what he’s used to, it’s a more natural change than someone wholly unused to such attention. “And it has its benefits.” He adds. Which leads me to ask him about the news that has everyone talking. “Like the Met?” I suggest, which draws a laugh from him.
Helmut has been chosen as the co-host for the Met Gala held at the Museum of Modern Art next May. The event’s theme has not yet been announced, but he reveals that he’s been working on his own outfit for the last few months, as well as the outfits of a few other guests.
“Zemo represents something different,” Says Vogue in-house Director of Photography, Bucky Barnes, the man who suggested Helmut as co-host for the event. “He has that classic style that everyone should strive for, but he reinvents it in a modern sense, which makes his pieces so versatile. He’s a serious guy, but underneath he truly has a heart of gold and I always feel so lucky to work with him.” When I read this quote out to Helmut he shrugs it off with a small smile. “James has always been far too kind to me.” He then redirects the attention from himself to tell me about how excited he is for the Gala.
It feels all too soon when his assistant appears to whisk him away to an important lunch. He’s just as charming as when he arrived, and offers to drive me home. When I insist that I live close by he argues that that’s all the more reason to give me a ride, as his driver will be passing my apartment building so I relent.
My lasting impression of Baron Helmut Zemo will be a man dedicated to living a life filled with the things he loves: his family, his country, and his craft. For that he should be exceptionally proud of himself, and I look forward to whatever or whoever he decides to love next.
