Timothée Gleize

My influences are a mix of my own heritage, French and Algerian, and my interests, such as architecture, video games and my cats. 
My inspiration comes from the places I have lived in – my boyfriend's flat in New York City, and my parents place in the French countryside. Besides that, it is about objects and symbols bringing specific emotions, which I am bringing into my collection in different ways.
I am using materials that portray the antagonism between traditional fabrics, reminding me of France, and contemporary fabrics, linked to the idea of New York. 

However, my main medium is digital, therefore my practice is mainly immaterial during the design process. The materiality is there to show the translation between virtual and real, to prove that my practice is viable.
I was traditionally trained in pattern making and draping in Paris. Technics, which are high demanding in resources and wasteful; I wanted to be able to design in the most sustainable way I could, as I am fully in control of this process as a designer.

I have been surrounded by computers since I was a kid, thanks to my father and brother. I wanted to merge my two points of interest during my time at the Royal College of Art, and that’s where I really started to design and develop principally on computer, using specific software as a new way to develop; prototyping several iterations without wasting material and saving time as it removes the act of cutting and sewing.
It is also efficient for the engineering of print and its visualisation, like changing a layout, scaling or exploring different colourways.
This innovation isn't necessarily in the product itself, but more in the design development to strive to be smarter, save time and effort using the digital, while respecting the craft.