In short, fashion designer Julian Zigerli only does what he wants, including pop-up pandas on his website, smileys on the company postcards and a heart included in the logo. Not that he doesn’t take his career in the fashion industry seriously. It’s just always been that this blond boy from Zurich’s agglomeration, son of a military pilot, has always been different. It all started with a now-famous favorite pink sweater from kindergarten. Without finishing high school he moved to Berlin and studied fashion design.
You recently moved into your first apartment in the Hardau high-rises from the 1970s. You can’t live higher anywhere in Zurich.
I only recently found out that it was even possible to live in the towers. They’re city homes. A colorful mix of creatives, seniors, youths and the poor live here, there’s a bit of everything. I can see the morning sun glittering on the lake. In Berlin I had a view of the TV tower. The whole idea of living here was super spontaneous.
You lived in Berlin for six years, but you came back to Zurich after your studies. Why?
I had no desire to be in Berlin anymore. I left my stuff there and applied for jobs in London, New York and Tokyo. In the end I came back to Zurich and created costumes for the Theater Neumarkt. At the time I consciously decided to move to Zurich and start my own label.
In the creative scene, a lot of people are moving to Berlin because it’s less expensive and there’s a lot going on.
Sure, but in Zurich you can make ends meet too. I stayed here because it really suits me. The lake, the rivers, the view of the Alps, it doesn’t stink, everything is clean and accessible by bicycle. When my studies were completed in Berlin all of my friends left. There are also an infinite number of young designers. In Zurich not much has changed which allows me the necessary peace to concentrate on working on my collection. I’m constantly traveling anyways, the fashion world is hectic, stressful. In Zurich I can relax and my friends and family are close by.
Does your family play such a central role in your life?
Yes. My parents support me in any way they can and also travel to the shows, they know all of my friends. In my apartment, next to knick-knacks from all over the world and three bags of shoes.
Speaking of furnishings: What’s with the dinosaur next to the TV?
Dinos will never be boring. I mean, were they purple or blue or orange? We know so little about them – that fascinates me. This is the reason we shot the campaign for To Infinity and Beyond, my fall/winter collection, in the Aathal Dinosaur Museum near Zurich. I bought the one next to the TV in 2012 as I worked on the To Infinity and Beyond collection.
You’re unusually eccentric for a Swiss. You say that Snoop Dogg should wear your designs, that Disneyland is a source of inspiration, everywhere your name is there are dancing pandas and smileys.
This is my heart, my being. Sure I work with it. From the time I was small it was always headed in this direction.
You play with the idea of your favorite pink sweater from kindergarten?
Oh, that! When I told a journalist about this pink sweater I knew it would follow me. It’s just a vague memory from my childhood. What I actually meant was that I’ve always swum against the current. I think that, thanks to this inner drive, I found a leitmotif. I’m increasingly committed to it. You don’t lose yourself with a focus. But that has to do with growing up.
You mean you also collaborated with Daniel Pitout, the singer of the Canadian band Eating Out, because of social networks?
Exactly. At some point I read about Daniel Pitout and found him exciting. He’s a punk rocker, skater and openly gay. A rare mix. I listened to his music and looked at the videos. They’re really nice: summer vibes, skating, Los Angeles. I liked it. We wrote via Facebook. That was a year ago. Then he wrote the song “Life is One of the Hardest” for the new 2015 summer collection. And because he’s a very attractive man, we flew him in for the campaign and fashion video.
In the creative scene, a lot of people are moving to Berlin because it’s less expensive and there’s a lot going on.
Sure, but in Zurich you can make ends meet too. I stayed here because it really suits me. The lake, the rivers, the view of the Alps, it doesn’t stink, everything is clean and accessible by bicycle. When my studies were completed in Berlin all of my friends left. There are also an infinite number of young designers. In Zurich not much has changed which allows me the necessary peace to concentrate on working on my collection. I’m constantly traveling anyways, the fashion world is hectic, stressful. In Zurich I can relax and my friends and family are close by.
Our talk with Julian Zigerli ended in his favorite place – the Sports Bar in Zurich’s multicultural 4th district, with a beloved-by-the-Swiss Schinkengipfeli (ham croissant) and a cup of coffee. Our walk leads us over the Hardbrücke, where the Prime Tower rises into the sky and the train station’s tracks create a mosaic. The days slowly darkens. In the café Julian taps at his cell phone. He says, “We’re going out again tonight. Are you coming with?”