Greetings, fashions fans ! This is the interview of the famous designer Damien, taken at his main workplace, Damien’s Designs in Sinifer, Gate Ward. The place is luminous, spacious and lifelike displays are all over the place, wearing the most extravagant and refined clothes in the Archipelago.

Interviewer : First thing first, everyone knows you as Damien, but do you have a last name ?

Damien : I probably do ? If so, I don’t remember it. I’ve just been Damien for such a long time …

Interviewer : Are you amnesiac ? Too bad you don’t have a last name to give to your eventual future wife.

Damien : Well, my ex wife took the last name of an adopted family, after our wedding, so it wasn’t an issue, back then. We divorced over other things unrelated. It is less amnesia than simply time and lack of use.

Interviewer : Some of our readers will find sleep, at last. How and why did you start a career in fashion ?

Damien : I wanted to start a creative career and I tried fashion, so I could try and pass on beauty to others. Also it is a good opportunity to dress and undress my lady customers. As to how, when I first arrived in the isles, there was the Aglon Fashion Guild ,a group of great designers. I applied and joined them. The Guild is mostly disbanded, now, but I remained. I watched the rise and fall of no less than three fashion guilds over the years. One is supposedly still active, but haven’t held any fashion show in a long while.

Interviewer : How about your source of inspiration ? What is driving your creativity ?

Damien : My inspiration ? I find it wherever I can. Animals, monsters, poeple, even other designs. When I see someone try something new, I want to match it and I hope other designers will want to try and emulate what I do. We only grow if we all work together to do so.

Interviewer : Leading by the example. Speaking of wich, you’ve held many fashion shows during your career, was there a model you particularily enjoyed working with ?

Damien : I enjoyed working with all of my models ! Tough, I had three regular models for a while, now : Rayna Ralien, Mara Maelstrom and Tannie Tane. All of whom are wonderful, gorgeous ladies with lovely personnalities. Rayna’s daughter joined us, recently, too, her name is Darline Ralien.

Interviewer : They are most certainly cut for the job. Is there a type of clothing you especially like designing ? A category, a cut above the rest.

Damien : Not really. It is a mood thing. I guess it simply depends on what inspiration has taken me or where my fabric-fiddling leads me to. For instance, the day before, I made several formal gowns, just because the idea came to me.

Interviewer : Let’s derail and horse around, talking about your other passion : horse racing. You organize race galas with prizes, once in a while. What do you like about the noble riding sports ?

Damien : You said it, it is a noble, yet harmless competition : No one has to bleed for a winner to rise above the others.

Interviewer : What are your thoughts on sea horses ?

Damien : Pretty creatures, but impractical for a land-bound race. I wouldn’t be mad if someone managed to bring one on land with magic and competed with it in my next gala, though. An underwater race also sounds quite enticing, now.

Interviewer : It would be breathtaking ! Speaking of wich : when and what is the next event you’re planning ?

Damien : I am not sure. I am considering a festival in two months or wait for the end of Summer. Perhaps both ? Keep your eyes open for fashion shows, races, beach parties and more ! The fashion show will have formal, casual, swimwear and intimate designs, but I encourage your readers to reach out for me, if they have an idea for a new category.

Interviewer : This is a lot of work. Do you have apprentices and assistants to help you out ?

Damien : I’ve had a few apprentices over the years and I am proud of them and their progress. Notably Eleecil Enya-Failm Maeviir whom was my first apprentice. She has quite the career, now ! As for more apprentices ? I am always eager to take anyone willing under my wing for anything fashion design or even architecture design. I enjoy working with others.

Interviewer : What do you think of criticism regarding the practicality of your designs?

Damien : Laughters We live in a place filled with magic, demons, dragons, angels, ghosts and random beings from universes unkown. If a few extra bangles, broad shoulderpads or long skirts bother you, well, you have issues. I just like to design extravagant outfits, but I do make very practical ones. I want to design for everyone and I have no issues altering an outfit to match one’s tastes.

Interviewer : Last question will be for those whom want to meet you in person : What is your kind of woman ?

Damien : Any woman not made of fire. Firey hair, I can accomodate. Jokes aside, I just love women in general, I think they are all beautiful in their own way. A shame I am just awful at lasting relationships.

With that, we parted. Damien returning to his fabric and me, returning with quite the fashionnable interview. Until next time !

C. Santo Giacomo