The Modern Monk

The lone cock in the hen house. That’s what life is like for Bjarke Bisgaard, who has just graduated from Design School Kolding’s fashion design line. Not only is he the only male on the fashion design line; he is also the only one who is presenting a men’s collection this year, and that is not exactly mainstream. The key words are modernity and monastic order, and if you are imagining something light, long and fluffy, then you are on the right track.

In addition to monks, Bjarke Bisgaard has been inspired by Le Corbusier, and in his graduation project he has explored what is essential in a men’s wardrobe. The target group is the style-conscious urban male, who is creative, independent, around 30 years old and is tuned to international fashion. But the rest of us are welcome to take part – if we can afford it. For the collection is not cheap, the young designer predicts.

Bjarke Bisgaard is 26 years old and has been bent over the sewing table for months in order to finish his collection consisting of eight silhouettes, as the term goes in the fashion industry. It means clothing from head to toe, not just a single garment.

- My collection also consists of sustainable elements such as hemp, organic cotton and seal skin, because I believe it is important to become more aware of creating fewer ’styles’ which are more durable and which can be used in many contexts.

Monks also wear stockings
Bjarke Bisgaard sees himself as a light version of the fashion researcher, Else Skjold’s, research project, which points towards the fashion industry cutting down on the number of collections and rather focussing on materials with much more sustainability. Not only because the earth suffers under humanity’s overproduction, but also because consumers do not actually demand the latest fashion, but rather clothes that confirm the story we want to tell about ourselves. And the monk is not a bad model, says Bjarke Bisgaard.

- I really like the idea of ‘slow fashion’, and monks have only a few possessions. I have tried to capture the classic and the subdued, which can be used in many contexts, Bjarke Bisgaard explains. Bjarke Bisgaard has collaborated with mp Denmark that is well-known for colourful and striped stocking for children and others fond of bright colours. Thus the modern monk will have some colour in which to warm his clean feet.