Art on the dress: an interview father & son with designers Marius and Ioan Mușat 

I know the brand since… forever. And I have always admired the coolness of the brand’s pieces, the fashion aesthetic of the collections and… the omnipresent poppies (one of my favorite flowers). How does the new and very arty collection, hand-painted by Ioan Mușat, looks like, how can a brand could keep its legacy over the years and what is next for the #RomanianBrand? Keep reading. 

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Marius Mușat – @mariusmusat / https://mariusmusat.com/ro/musat.com / Calea Dorobanti 111 / @mariusmusatdesigner / @ioanmusatttt

Why a collection related to art at Marius Mușat? Who did what in this one? What is so special?
Marius: Because I love my son as a painter. I was honored to combine my style with his talent. We’ve been working at the same time in the factory, so our chemistry bloomed in the collection. 
Ioan: Because in my vision, art is always linked with fashion. My inspiration is always coming from great artists. Dad created the garments specifically for me to paint them. 

How was it to work in a father-son pair? How is the dynamic? Who was more bossy? Who brings the food into the atelier? Who was the late one? 
Marius: I know my son inside out. I knew he could do great things. I encouraged him to try this idea. We both learned to explain ourselves and be patient with each other, our close relationship helped this. And then it was just him prototyping, me holding the paint can, us testing angles…
Ioan: It was tough at first to work together, we both wanted our own way. But he understood me and gave me creative liberty with the brush. He did bring the perfect amount of balance to the painting concept in order for them to fit the garments, his experience spoke volumes on this. Oh, and we would arrive at the same time, he drove us. 🙂

Tell me how would you describe, in a phrase, the arty collection & the woman who is going to wear it?
Marius: The collection is novel, full of emotion, completely individual – each piece is numbered. It will be adored by the free woman, who is comfortable in nature, but loves to feel like she’s walking the runway.
Ioan: I view the collection as my attempt to bring my love and experience of painting into fashion. I wish I had my dad’s great answer. All i can say is it should be worn by anyone who likes it. 

Marius Mușat is a name that resisted so many years in the Romanian industry. What was the secret for the longevity? And what was the hardest thing to overcome all these years? 
Marius: “The secret of longevity” is that I really truly love what I do. May be a cliche, but it’s undoubtedly my motivation. A challenge is managing a business and raising a family at the same time. I am happy I get to do both.

What is the iconic piece that will never be missed in any collection? 
Marius: A dress. Preferably one inspired by my favorite period, 1920’ – 1960’s. 

How can we solve the dilemma: why to invest in a Romanian piece instead of a big brand outfit? 
Marius: Very simple. Because a woman wearing Romanian fashion is more charismatic and it has the chance to be like no one else. Her outfit isn’t duplicated. 

Why poppy flowers? For those who do not know… 
Marius: Poppies are my childhood friend. I used to watch their blooms change in my hometown’s fields all day, pick them for my mom. They’ve inspired me ever since.

The trend I hate the most is… 
Marius: The idea of trends in general. We should wear what we like.
Ioan: When people try to dress as someone they’re not.

3 fashion things that define me are…
Marius: Vintage cuts, an oversized silhouette and a touch of red.
Ioan: I would prefer art things, if that’s alright: Monet’s lilies, Renoir’s still lives with flowers, Basquiat’s symbolism.

Photography: Ioan Mușat – @ioanmusatttt.