- Creative director for the french fashion house MUGLER ／ 法国时装品牌MUGLER创意总监
- Fashion director of Vogue Hommes Japan ／ 日本Vogue男士杂志时尚总监
- Creative consultant of clothing company Uniqlo ／ Uniqlo服装品牌创意顾问
- Lady Gaga‘s stylist ／ Lady Gaga 造型师
- One of 2010’s “most influential creative forces working in fashion today” ／ 2010时尚界最具时尚影响力之一
- Winner of Isabella Blow Award for Fashion Creator at the 2010 British Fashion Awards ／ 2010英国时尚创造者Isbella Blow得奖人
Which one of the above got you to notice him? Actually it doesn’t matter, now you should know him as the PandaMan!
你是因为以上哪一条开始注意他的？其实都没关系，因为现在你只需要知道他是“熊猫男”。
Why? Read… … 为什么？继续阅读… …
(Nicolas – N, Elle – E)
Met Nicola at his #NicoPanda pop-up store (1 May – 31 May) setting up on 30 April at Lane Crawford IFC, I asked him to choose his favorite spot and pose; N:‘Can you shoot me slim?’ E:’ It’s really hard to shoot you fat!’ I liked him already as this is exactly what I always say when other people are taking photos of me. LOL, fashion syndrome? Nah, we are just Avant Garde/Sublime.
在4月30日，Nicola还在国金连卡佛忙着完成他临时＃NicoPanda熊猫店开店前摆设的时候，我见到了他。我让他自己选位置，自己摆姿势给我拍照。N:“把我拍瘦点。” E: “很难把你照胖呢。” 这一开始，我就“喜欢”上他了，因为这是每次别人照我的时候我必说的话。这是时尚之人的通病吗？不，我觉得这是自爱的表现。
Anyway, see what he is holding in the photo? Yes, a panda, the #NicoPanda! He is a PANDAMAN! You think he’s holding it because he’s promoting it? BIG MISTAKE, he really is the pandaman. I caught him off guard when I first walked in the store, he was already carrying it like it’s part of him.
无论如何，你看到他在照片里手里拿的是什么吗？没错，就是一只熊猫， 是#NicoPanda!他是熊猫男！你觉得他拿着熊猫是故意摆样子宣传品牌？那你就大错特错了， 他真的是熊猫男。看下面的照片，我刚抵达的时候偷偷拍了一张店铺照，他就是拿着这熊猫在到处“干活”的。所以，熊猫真的已经是他的一部分了。
And if you pay close attention to this cute panda, you could tell he has been to quite a few places with Nicola. Ok, without further ado, let me walk you into The Pandaman’s wonderland in Lane Crawford IFC.
如果你认真看看这熊猫，还可以发现，这个熊猫一定跟着他去过不少地方了。好了，现在让我直接带你们进入熊猫男Nicola在国金连卡佛的“奇幻世界。”
The exhibition aisle is very much Lady Gaga inspired, some are actual clothes that Gaga wore in her music videos and other occasions.
整个展览区让人不经联想起他的好友，也是客人，Lady gaga。有些服饰还是Gaga在她的音乐片和其它场合穿过的。
For example, this one; do you remember when and where did Gaga wear the gown below? Hint: Christian Lacroix.
比如，下面这件“战袍”，你记得Gaga是在什么时候什么地点做什么的时候穿的吗？一点提示：Christian Lacroix。
Of course, #NicoPanda is everywhere. The whole space is wrapped around with chrome #NicoPanda sculptures, the changing blue/purple/green/yellow lightings adds another layer of edginess and mystery.
显而易见的，#NicoPanda充斥着整个空间。展区的2边都被凸起的透明#NicoPanda雕塑像包围着，伴随着蓝、紫、绿和黄色的等交替照射；空间感更添一丝型格和神秘感。
E: How is this pop-up store different from the other ones you did? How did you get the inspiration of these amazing designs? What’s the process of your creation?
N: I only did one pop-up store in New York before this one, that one lasted 2 weeks. This one here will last for 1 month and is going to be more organized as Lane Crawford is very professional. I dug into my archives, brought both the couture pieces and some #NicoPanda items that were not showed or sold in New York before. Like the ring I am wearing now. (You can see his ring in his later Instagram ‘HOW TO’ photos)
I get inspired by everyone, by the people I work with, the people who talk to me online. And with Gaga, sometimes it’s very weird as we have the exact same ideas, she’s already doing it when I am trying to show her. I like working with creative people like her to always make something the world has never seen. Wonder if I can sneak her in here without people noticing, maybe at night… I really want her to see this store. (Gaga is in Hong Kong preparing for concert at this moment)
Oh, and I get inspired from Japanese comics. My favorite is dragon ball, look at my #NicoPanda wall here; can’t you tell it’s like dragon ball? Also, Sailor Moon! I love Sailor Moon too, look at these dresses; they are so Sailor Moon. I don’t think it’s something the West understands, the comics I read when I was little were all Japanese comics. I dreamt about fighting when I was alone lying in bed…
I never sketch, I just make and I can never foresee how the final piece is going to look like as I create in the process.
E: 这个香港的临时店和你之前做的有什么不一样吗？你的灵感来自哪里？你是如何设计，打造一件衣服的？
N: 我之前只有在纽约做过一次临时店，那一次开了2个星期。这个香港的将开设1个月的时间，这家店感觉会井井有条许多，因为连卡佛很专业。我带来了一些高级定制的服饰，和一些之前在纽约没有售卖的＃NicoPanda单品。就像我现在戴的这个戒指。（看最后几张Nico玩手机的照片就可以看到）
我的灵感来自于身边的每个人，和我一起工作的人，网络上和我聊天的人。至于和 Lady Gaga,有时候我感觉很奇怪，我们会有一模一样的想法。正当我要和她说的时候，她已经开始做了。我喜欢和有创意的人，好像她一样一起做一些别人没有做过的事情。不知道我可不可以偷偷带她进来，我很想让她看看这家店。（Gaga现正在香港筹备她即将举办的演唱会）
哦! 还有，我的灵感也来自日本漫画。我最喜欢的漫画就是《七龙珠》，看看我的#NicoPanda枪毙，你不觉得就是和《七龙珠》一样吗？还有，《美少女战士》！我也很喜欢《美少女战士》，看看这些礼服，它们就是《美少女战士》的化身。我觉得这些概念可能是西方不能理解的，我都是在小时候住日本的时候看的这些漫画。那时候我一个人躺在床上，就想着像漫画人物一样打架…
我从来不打草稿，我都是直接做，所以我从来都不知道我最后的成品会是什么，我在做的时候也在不停的创造新东西。
(You want to be fierce and make a statement? These heels below are your top choice!
喜欢标新立异？这些鞋子一定是你的不二选择！)
E: Are you going to open an online store soon for #NicoPanda? What is it going to be your main focus in the future?
N: Yes, we are going to launch the online store for #NicoPanda soon. But we didn’t want to do it at the beginning as we wanted to do this kind of pop-up store to make #NicoPanda more special. We had a good 2-week pop-up at New York, a lot of #NicoPanda items were sold out. I started doing #NicoPanda with my brother for fun, to our surprise, it is much more popular than we anticipated. So it’s good, but my main focus is still on styling and doing creative work with/for fashion brands, magazines and icons.
E:＃NicoPanda很快会有网上商店吗？你未来的工作会专注于哪些领域？
N: 是的，我们很快就会推出＃NicoPanda的网络店。为什么最初不开呢？因为我们想把#NicoPanda搞的更特别。在纽约的2个星期临时店，很多#NicoPanda的单品都卖光了。我是和我的亲兄弟一起合作#NicoPanda的，开始只是觉得好玩，但现在比我们预期的反应好很多很多。这很好，但我的重心还是将放在做时尚品牌、人物、杂志的设计、造型和创新。
E: I know you are doing a cross over contest with Lane Crawford this time. How is the contest going? Have you seen any impressive entries so far? What made you to think of this contest idea?
N: I just got here (Hong Kong) yesterday and been busy setting up the pop-up store, so I haven’t had a chance to look at the entries. But I am really looking forward to it, there are many creative minds in Hong Kong and it would be fun to talk to them. The reason I want to do this contest is to encourage people to be creative, I wish I had something like this when I was young. Creativity/fashion should not be limited by nationality, race, or age. Anyone can be successful if he is not afraid to try and be creative.
(You can read details about this contest by visiting Lane Crawford’s facebook page 点击左边链接查看这次比赛详情, enter to win a chance of having breakfast with Nicola)
E: 我知道你这次和连卡佛合作还一起举办了创意一个比赛，可以赢得和你共进早餐的机会。比赛进行的如何？有看到什么让你印象深刻的参赛作品吗？是什么促使你举办这样一个比赛的？
N: 我昨天刚到这里（香港），一直忙着完成这次临时店的摆设，所以我还没机会看下比赛作品。但我很期待，在香港有很多有创意的人，和他们聊天吃早饭会很好玩。我做这个比赛的初衷是想鼓励大家的创造力，我希望以前我还小的时候就有这种比赛。创意、时尚不应该被国籍、种族或年龄所阻碍。任何人都可能成功，只要他不怕去尝试、去创造。
(Nicola truly loves his #NicoPanda, he can’t keep his hands off his cute design and I totally understand why!
Nicola真的很爱他的＃NicoPanda，在采访过程中他不停的在玩自己的时尚设计品，我完全了解为什么！因为实在太可爱了…)
E: How did you get the idea of creating this #NicoPanda? Does it have something to do with the half-Japanese, half-Italian mixed blood in you?
N: Yes, my friends used to call me Nico Panda because I’m half Asian, I had this long beard back then; and was a little chubby, so I looked like a bear—an Asian bear. So people started calling me Nico Panda on Twitter, and then once Gaga did that panda makeup, I created this character for the store. I’m going to do a Gaga Panda too… I want to have dolls eventually. It’s one of my dreams to do a toy collection.
E: 你怎么想到设计创造这个#NicoPanda熊猫的呢？和你一半日本，一半意大利的血统有关系吗？
N: 是的。我的朋友以前叫我Nico Panda熊猫因为我一半的亚洲血统。那时候我还有长胡子，还有点肥肥的。所以我看起来有点像一只熊，一只亚洲熊。之后网络Twitter上大家就开始叫我Nico Panda熊猫，直到Lady Gaga画了那个熊猫妆，我就创作了这个熊猫形象。我还想做个Lady Gaga的熊猫，我的终极梦想之一就是推出一系列的玩偶。
E: Is panda your favorite animal? 熊猫是你最喜欢的动物吗？
N: No, I hate panda. I hate it so much that I got a tattoo of my #NicoPanda on my wrist the other day. It really hurt, so I don’t recommend anyone who doesn’t hate panda as much as I do to even think of getting it. Instead, you can get a #NicoPanda stamp or a t-shirt.
N: 不，我讨厌熊猫。［大笑］我讨厌熊猫讨厌到我最近纹了一个熊猫纹身在自己的手腕上。真的很痛，所以我不推荐任何没有讨厌熊猫到这个级别的人去纹。［微笑］不过，你可以买个＃NicoPanda的印章，或者是一件熊猫T-shirt.
E: Did you design the layout of the pop-up store yourself? I saw you doing the display just now too. Are you alway this hands on?
N: Yes, I am a control freak. I have to do everything myself, and make sure everything is the way I like it. I love these nails, too bad I can’t wear them. (picture below) I am just afraid that no one shows up tomorrow, I am really worried…What if no one shows up?
E: Too bad that’s not something you can control! Don’t worry about it, it’s golden week; everyone will be out and shopping. I wish you have enough stock!
N: Really? You think so? Ok, good.
(E: Isn’t Nicola a cute Pandaman? He speaks his mind and is not afraid to be himself in front of media or anyone. But I really think he will have no problem selling his cute #NicoPanda! I bought the black & white iPhone case already…so…)
E: 这个临时专卖店的摆设也是你自己设计的吗？我刚才看到你还在调整货品的摆设，你一直都是那么亲力亲为吗？
N: 是的，我有点“控制狂”［笑］我必须要自己做一切，这样我才可以确保所有东西到达我的标准，我才能满意。我超爱这些指甲贴的，真可惜我自己用不了（看下图）。我真害怕明天没人出现，真的很担心。。。如果没人出现怎么办？
E: 可惜有没有人出现就不是你能控制的了。不过不用担心，现在是5.1黄金周，一定很多人回来购物的。我希望你有准备足够的货品！
N: 真的吗？你觉得是这样？那就好了。
（E: 熊猫男是不是很可爱？他想到什么就说什么，也不会顾及其他人或媒体对他的看法。不过我真的觉得他不用担心没人来买他的可爱Nico熊猫！我已经买了熊猫手机套了。。。）
E: Ok, last but not least. I know you are very active online, what is your favorite social media tool now and why? Twitter, Instagram or Pinterest?
N: Weibo!
E: What? No way! You are on Weibo? Which one? Tencent or Sina?
N: Yes, of course! It’s so cool! I am on Sina weibo. Wow, I got another 64 new followers…awesome!
I understand most of it as the Chinese characters are similar to Japanese characters, but I am still learning. It is a great tool, it’s more visual than twitter. And it has built in filters for photos just like Instagram. I love it!
(Nicola’s sina weibo: www.weibo.com/formichetti)
The very down-to-earth Pandaman even gave us a ‘HOW TO’ lesson on doing a good Instagram photo as we discussed more into filters and social media.
Here is his steps for producing a ultra perfect photo for his instagram:
1. Camera+ (I use it too!)
2. Squaready (Nicola is very professional and serious about getting his pictures squared before going to Instagram.)
3. Instaplus (E: You are really a control freak! N: Yes…sorry…ok, so in the end; you can’t even tell I am in the photo! hahaha~)
4. Instagram
E: It has been a great pleasure meeting and talking to you, Nicola. Don’t worry about nobody coming in to your pop-up, there will be more than you can imagine. Relax! And can we just take a photo using a normal camera and put no filter on?
N: Sure, but the lighting here is a bit weird…so we might look weird…
E: Ok, I will learn photoshop and fix the lighting afterwards! How about that?
N: Great, I want to learn that too…can make myself look slimmer.
E: You are already slim…
I have to say, Nicolas is like no other designers I have met. His thoughts can be all over the place, but in a nice way. He is very creative and there’s definitely no boundaries in his creativity. I am very much in love with his #NicoPanda, not because I am Chinese; only because it’s too cute to be true and very well made. (Good designers all tend to be control freaks and perfectionists, no?!)
I strongly suggest you all go pay a visit to his pop-up store, to experience this out-of-space SPACE and to ‘play’ with his cute pandas!
Tags: ifc, Interview, Lady Gaga, lane crawford, Nicola Formichetti, NicoPanda, pop-up store, 专访, 连卡佛
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