INTERVIEW OF DECHAMPS BY THEM MAGAZINE / ENGLISH TRANSLATION
Interview by Shunya Shinobu (Righters) / English translation by Dechamps:
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Dechamps is an emerging Paris-based brand created by the male-female designer duo Camil Krings and Mirja Celine Hansen. Both born in 1998, they studied fashion at a specialized school in Berlin, later gaining experience at major fashion houses. The brand name Dechamps has roots in a textile factory called Dechamps & Drouven, founded in 1872 by Camil’s ancestor, Paul Dechamps, which specialized in the production of fine wool fabrics (the factory is now closed). Drawing on over 150 years of textile tradition and archival materials from the factory, the duo combines this heritage with their creative vision to present contemporary tailoring for the modern individual. In this feature, we delve into the full story of Dechamps and the roots that shaped it.
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Tell us about your backgrounds.
Mirja: "I grew up in the countryside of northern Germany, in a city by the sea, close to Hamburg. I started ballet when I was five, and I think this passion for movement and the body stayed with me ever since. I believe this passion for costumes, postures and movement of the body later developed into an interest in fashion. A way to dress, shape or deform a body."
Camil: "I was born in Sens, a small town near Paris. My parents worked in Paris - my Italian mother is a painter, and my German father was a fashion photographer at the time. Later, our family moved to Berlin, where I continued attending a French school. I spent a lot of time in my mother’s atelier. Looking back, I realize how impactful it was to see all the art exhibitions in Berlin as a child. One that left a particularly strong impression was at the Hamburger Bahnhof Museum of Contemporary Art in Berlin. I saw works by German artist Anselm Kiefer, especially “Mohn und Gedächtnis” (massive lead airplane) and “Volkszählung” (the lead library)."
You both graduated from the Berlin campus of the fashion design school “Chardon Savard.” What did you learn there, and why did Camil choose tailoring while Mirja focused on leatherwork?
Camil: "The studies placed a strong emphasis on technical skills like pattern-making and construction, which gave us a solid technical foundation. I became fascinated by the history and evolution of the suit from reading " Sex and Suits" by Anne Hollander, who describes the suit as a timeless, simple yet powerful garment and where she explains its historical weight."
Mirja: "During my student days, I completed an internship with a leather designer based in Berlin. There, I learned leather shaping techniques from the artisans and discovered the versatility of leather as a material."
After that, Camil joined Celine, and Mirja worked on projects with Isabel Marant. What did you gain from those experiences?
Mirja: "One of my first experience in Paris was an internship in the leather goods design department at Isabel Marant. After that, I was involved in collaborative projects. The biggest takeaway from those experiences was gaining an understanding of quality craftsmanship."
Camil: "I started working under Hedi Slimane in the Outerwear & Sportswear department at Celine. It was a very important experience to witness the approach of creating collections. I also had the chance to do extensive research into vintage clothing, which allowed me to learn about various styles and eras. I also realized how essential music is in creating a cohesive mood for a collection."
What inspired you to leave the big maisons and start your own brand together?
Camil: "I felt that true fulfillment for me would come from creating freely and independently. To do that, the best path was to have a brand of our own."
Mirja: "Before we launched the brand, we visited the city where the old Dechamps factory was once located. When we discovered that a vast number of archives had been preserved there, I strongly felt that we should protect this history and develop it with new ideas."
What kind of brand is Dechamps?
Camil: "Dechamps is a brand focused on tailoring and leather goods. Every item is designed in our atelier at 2 Passage du Chantier in Paris. Currently, we release two collections a year, mixing men's and women's looks."
Could you share your thoughts on the classic men’s wardrobe?
Camil: "From my point of view, the ‘classic men’s wardrobe', for example whole-cut shoes, tailored jackets or trousers should help enhance the natural body. The shoe refines the foot’s shape, the jacket sculpts the upper body, and the pants unify the legs. This approach to clothing, designed to shape the body, can be applied to both men and women. In the 20th century, women began wearing suits, not just borrowing menswear but transforming it, proving its codes could serve anyone. We see the suit as an equal piece of clothing and at Dechamps we focus on proposing suits for both men and women."
What roles do each of you take on when designing together? Also, what is the process for creating a collection?
Camil: "My role is designing the clothes and imagine the atmosphere or narrative for each collection. We start by selecting a theme for the collection and researching anything interesting related to it. We then create an initial mood board filled with pictures, samples, and ideas. From there, we begin sourcing materials, which often inspire new designs. I then start drawing the lineup to draft the silhouettes or characters we want to create. Music plays an important role, and throughout the design process, we build a playlist that is continuously updated."
Mirja: "I am in charge of designing leather goods and accessories. When I have an idea, I start a paper mockup to work out the shape and try it on. The next step is crafting a leather prototype with our atelier in Paris. We design shapes that highlight the beauty of the leather we are using."
The brand emphasizes the beauty of tailoring and wool fabrics. Can you tell us about your focus on these aspects? Also, many of your items feature front pockets with curved designs. Is the ‘curve’ a key design element for you?"
Camil: "By adding signature details, like our curved pockets, we aim to establish codes that allow you to recognize Dechamps’ clothes in a discrete way. Curves are indeed often present in our designs. There is something dynamic and intuitive about curves, and we like that. Our curved piped pockets, for example, showcase a handmade craftsmanship that cannot be replicated by industrial mass production."
I also believe that Mirja's leather goods are one of the key attractions of the brand. What do you prioritize when creating them?
Mirja: "Our leather goods always feature an element from tailoring. With our cufflink on the Bow Bag, for example, we create a link between our wardrobe and leather goods. We work with local artisans, all of whom bring their years of experience in French savoir-faire. It is often a dialogue between artisans and me to achieve something new yet rooted in savor-faire. The French leathers we source play an important role; we select each skin individually, with some colors being very limited. Each piece is made to order in Paris, allowing us to offer personalized creations.''
You presented your 2025 Spring/Summer collection in a video format. What was the reason behind that?
Mirja: "The SS25 collection collection, 'En Garde', was inspired by old fencing fights, fencing postures and uniforms. One time, I was deeply moved by a performance from two talented dancers at the Paris Opera, and after that, we decided to collaborate with them and express the collection through video."
Camil: "I had the opportunity to experience the production of Celine's fashion films. It later became natural for me at Dechamps to think of film as a medium to present a collection."
Tell us about your own fashion styles.
Camil: "For the past few years, I’ve stuck to a simple uniform: black flared pants, black boots, and a black cashmere V-neck. Occasionally, I wear jeans because I love vintage denim. I also enjoy looking at shoes, and I can’t wait to work on the first pair of Dechamps boots one day."
Mirja: "My favorite piece of clothing is a suit that Camil made for me as a birthday gift. I wear it quite often – it’s made of dark green wool, with horn buttons and a silk lining. The pants are slightly flared. Since we created the Bow Bag, I’ve been wearing it daily to test its durability and observe how its patina develops over time."
What is your perspective on the Japanese market?
Mirja: "Since we haven’t been to Japan yet, I can only speak subjectively, but I think the Japanese market places great importance on detail and originality. We are really looking forward to visiting Japan in the near future."
Camil: "The first store outside Europe to express interest in our collections was a Japanese store. That might be due to the Japanese market’s curiosity and openness toward new brands."
What are your future plans?
Camil & Mirja: "We own an extraordinary archival piece: a study book filled with fabric samples and precise instructions made by Paul Dechamps in the 1890s. One of our future goals is to find textile manufacturers that can reproduce the original weaving patterns and fabrics. To see these small, vintage samples come to life again would be very fulfilling. We are also very excited about our AW25 collection, which will be available in several stores across Japan. We can’t wait to continue offering our service and sharing our vision."
DECHAMPS
Dechamps was founded in 2023 by designer duo Camil Krings and Miria Celine Hansen. The brand has its roots in the historic wool textile mill “Dechamps & Drouven,” established by Camil’s ancestor Paul Dechamps. Today, the brand presents two collections per year, offering a made-to-order line of tailored garments centered on wool and luxury leather goods made in Paris.