Chimera Lab
90s youth nostalgia printed on clothes – CHIMERA LAB brings back our kitschiest moments and turns them into fashion. Born into the early internet days, Liana Paberza fell in love with printmaking as the purest form to please a visually functioning mind.
If you could travel back in time, what fashion era would you like to witness?
Besides 90s, 50s-60s rock’n’roll inspired fashion. When I was younger, I was obsessed with pin-up style, the music, the cars... everything!
What feelings do you want to provoke in your clothing’s observers?
CHIMERA is about a sense of the past and nostalgia for the early internet days. It's important to me to bring a sense of irony and lightheartedness. Today's world is already incredibly complex and full of anxious feelings, my goal is to make something that people can enjoy - it's that simple.
On instagram you say, CHIMERA LAB, just like the mythological figure itself, is a hybrid of different ideas, which ones?
I've always been fascinated by the power of bringing different ideas together, to create contrasts, whether in form, material, or context. When I'm working with prints, I like to do these badass, rock-inspired, thunder-infused graphics, as well as collages with overly cute, goofy-looking puppies and kittens. I also recognize those feelings in myself - the soft, emotional side and the strong, confident persona I need to maintain for the outside world.
What is great about printing?
Applying print to garments is just so much more fun and exciting. It's a great way to communicate my ideas as I've always been a very visual person.
What was the idea behind your bachelor collection?
For my bachelor collection I was inspired by growing up in Latvia in the 90's, I went through all my family photos and examined what people wore back then. There were no malls, but people were always finding creative ways to express themselves - whether it was wearing crazy color combinations or making their own clothes and reusing, repurposing the old ones. I think this is where true creativity shows - when you have very little and can still come up with something creative and inspiring!
That's always been my approach - use what you have; when you only have a certain amount of fabric, it makes you think more imaginatively and for me, it's a great way to fuel my creativity.
For your latest drop, you have selected a collection of classic Y2k motifs, how do they captivate you?
I was born in 1991, so my earliest memories are from the 90's, but the 2000's was when I started to be more conscious of what I was wearing. It was truly a disastrous time, but then again so inspiring! I love the irony and humorous aspect of fashion and even the tackiness the 2000s are known for!
Your personal fashion moment of the 2000s?
There are so many horrible ones!
Like these denim sneakers with American flags, or an anime print top, and my coolest ever - baby blue cargo pants that zipper up into capri length and also turn into short shorts, isn't that the most functional, clever design ever made?
There are some things I loved as a teenager I still love now. Such as western inspired looks, vintage Americana and the like. It's funny to see how these early developments are linked for me and I keep going back to what I loved as a kid.
words IMKE RABIEGA
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