Maarten van der Horst

Designer name: Maarten van der Horst

Origin: Holland

Design background: Maarten graduated with a BA from the ArtEZ Institute of the Arts in Arnhem, Holland. During his studies he completed an internship with Chloé in Paris, which “taught me enough to make me want to do my own thing”. He then moved to London for his MA at Central Saint Martins. His AW11 collection channelled transvestism and escapism, marrying intricately embroidered, second-hand nylon petticoats with Hawaiian shirts, Capri trousers and Bermuda shorts, creating a John Waters-inspired wardrobe. Spring/summer 2012 is his first season with Fashion East at London Fashion Week.

Design signatures: “Lo-fi, blessed-out, D-I-Y glamour.”

Career highlight: “Fashion East SS12.”

How would you describe the Maarten van der Horst woman? “Anyone gutsy enough to wear pastel-coloured nylon frills on Hawaiian shirts.”

Trademark piece: “The ‘dragified’ Hawaiian shirt.”

Three spring/summer 2012 inspirations: “10 CC's ‘I'm not in Love’, Traci Lords and Rita Marley – quite the combo, but there you go!”

What’s next for your brand? “Launching my new website. And I'm designing a chair at the moment!”

Who are your design heroes? “So many! Fong Leng, Peter Shire, Rei Kawakubo, Jean-Paul Goude, Maarten Baas, Zandra Rhodes, Jean-Paul Gaultier, I could keep going…”

What’s your favourite cultural hotspot in the capital? “Central Saint Martins.”

In five years time I will be… “Fat. I eat a lot. A LOT. Maybe chubby?”