ALEXANDER EKMAN EMBODIES RIBBED ESSENTIALS

CDLP unveils its Ribbed Essentials, starring internationally acclaimed choreographer and director Alexander Ekman in a campaign that explores the relationship between movement, creativity, and the garments closest to the body.

Your work often begins with observations from everyday life. Where does creativity usually start for you?

A lot of my creativity comes from moments of play and having fun, when there is no pressure. I try to create as little pressure as possible, even when the project itself is very big. When the mind feels free, ideas can appear more naturally.

Often music triggers ideas for me — images or scenes start forming in my head. Sometimes an idea comes from a funny situation, a conversation with someone, or even in the middle of the night.

What I have learned about creativity is that you can’t really plan it. Living a creative life means being comfortable with not always knowing how things will unfold. “Trust the process” is a saying I try to remember often.

And you also have to allow yourself to go wrong in the creative process — because sometimes that is exactly how you eventually find the right path.

Movement is at the core of everything you do. How do you think about the relationship between the body and what we wear?

I think clothes definitely affect how we feel. A great outfit should never be underestimated. On a bad day, I sometimes put on something that makes me feel good — and somehow it can even make me want to move or dance.

I think clothes definitely affect how we feel. A great outfit should never be underestimated. On a bad day, I sometimes put on something that makes me feel good — and somehow it can even make me want to move or dance.

For me it’s also one of life’s simple pleasures. I try to eat as much lobster as I can, wear as many beautiful clothes as I can, swim in cold water when I can, drink good coffee, and dance a little longer than planned — because why not?

Many of your works combine precision with a sense of playfulness. How important is this joy—or joie de vivre—in your creative process and works?

I love the contrast between dark and light. When something has been very heavy, it can be such a relief to suddenly laugh or do something silly — and the other way around as well. That contrast is very interesting to me.

I think joy is incredibly important. In a way, joy after sorrow is one of the reasons to live. Without joy — or happiness — what’s the point?

The question is whether joy is a choice. I think often it is.

In my work I also try to surprise the audience. When we are surprised, we become neutral for a moment. It wakes us up from whatever emotion we were previously in, and suddenly we are fully present again.

This campaign explores the ritual of getting ready. Tell us about the idea, and how it was to shoot? Feel free to mention anything about the creative process or the result?

Getting ready is, in a way, putting a face on — putting your mask on. It’s the moment where you prepare to become the version of yourself that you want to present to the world. It’s a small transformation.

I like to approach it with curiosity: what happens if I do this? What happens if I wear this? What happens if I move like this? Who do I become when I put this on? In that sense, getting ready is also a kind of creative process —experimenting with different versions of yourself.

It’s also a very performative moment. Like actors backstage before going on stage, we all have this private moment where we prepare before entering the world. Often music is playing, you try different clothes, you move around in front of the mirror — in a way the choreography has already started.

Christian and I have been friends for a long time, so the shoot felt very natural. We met, he unpacked his gear, and we just started playing, dancing, and trying things out together. It was probably one of the easiest shoots I’ve ever done — very spontaneous and very relaxed. I trust Christians eye.

Essentialism lies at the heart of CDLP–stripping away excess and focusing on what truly matters: the essential pieces worn every day. What are the essentials that matters the most to you? (could be garments, but also other essential things in your life)

My essentials are quite simple: friends, music, dance, sex, food, and travel. In that order—although it depends slightly on the day.

Friends are essential because life without good conversation is unbearable. Music and dance are essential because they keep the body and the imagination alive. Sex is essential because, well… we are human. Food is essential because hunger makes people unpleasant. And travel is essential because staying in the same place too long can make the world feel very small.

Clothes come after that—but preferably good ones.

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