20Q: Chris from Undacova Underwear

Chris Kilchling from Undacova draws inspiration from life for his designs. He also recycles culture, with creative results.
Chris Kilchling from Undacova Underwear.
Chris Kilchling from Undacova Underwear.

Going from social worker to fashion and graphic designer sounds a bit like going from one extreme to the next. But in fact Chris Kilchling from Undacova Underwear has also worked as a snowboard instructor, a surfboard designer, an architectural studio intern and a club manager. In October 2008 he co-founded Undacova Underwear, and the rest is a local design success story.

1. What's the most coveted item in your wardrobe? It's a collective. My evolving collection of graphic T-Shirts and all my Undacova Underwear pieces.

2. Do you recycle? I do. I recycle culture. My work is a result of all that stimulates and inspires me, which has been filtered, altered and reutilised.

3. Who are your heroes in real life? I don't really have heroes. But Madiba comes close.

4. Do you have a creative/business muse? I like Jeremy Scott and the way he has managed to grow his brand and diversify his business. I also really enjoy Denis Simachev's work - he is a Russian streetwear designer. His colourful collections with detailed references to Russian culture and folklore are amazing. He is also not afraid to take a humorous approach to fashion. He has opened a club, has designed furniture, cars, motorbikes, sunglasses, jewellery, even Barbie dolls. I respect a man who never stands still and spreads his creativity widely.

5. What makes you laugh you loud? Small kids and their, sometimes, brutal honesty.

6. Are you passionate about South Africa? I am very passionate about South Africa. I don't think there is any other place in the world that clicks so well with my diverse nature. I feel like I am part of this country's future and I want to make the best of it.

7. If not design, what would you do? I love to create. So if not fashion and graphic design maybe I would be an architect. I also worked as a snowboard instructor when I was living in Europe. I enjoy the great outdoors and believe in sport as an educational tool. So I could do that and combine it with my love for traveling.

8. What advice would you give emerging creatives? Design has to be your passion. Don't just answer briefs. The motivation to create has to come from inside of you. Make yourself happy and other people will get it too. And this: There is no elevator to success, you have to take the stairs!

9. How do you know when a design is complete? I usually don't design anything and send it away for production immediately (unless I have to for time reasons). I always sleep over it and have a look at it again in the morning. Then I immediately know whether it still needs work or not. However, “complete” is very relative. In most cases I will look at a design in retrospect and think that I could have done it better. This doesn't mean, though, that at a certain moment in time a design isn't complete. It's a natural progression that at a later point in time a design might feel outdated.

10. What's the question you ask yourself the most? Can I still make it better?

11. What's the first thing you think of when you wake up in the morning? The blinking light on my Blackberry usually has me thinking business first thing after waking up. I have checked my emails by the time I get out of bed and I have also been on Twitter. My next point on the agenda is coffee.

12. What's the best piece of design you've seen recently? Although I would never buy a million rand car, the new Mercedes SLS has me in awe. I think that often times car designers don't get it right if they update a classic shape. In this case, though, they did a great job.

13. What's one thing that you haven't done that you would still really like to do? I have a couple of ideas in my head regarding conceptual underwear collections that I want to create in the future. Outside of my job, there is still a lot of traveling I want to do.

14. What inspires you? Life.

15. What's your favourite film? Pulp Fiction always entertains. And I love Shawshank Redemption.

16. What's the next big thing in design? Anything that is truly sustainable.

17. Summer or winter? Both! Life is about balance.

18. When last did you take a holiday? I take micro holidays. Half a day of leisure can do wonders. I also just came back from a week-long trip to Namibiathat  was absolutely mind blowing. The raw nature of the bush has a cleansing effect on body and soul. There are just no shenanigans out in the wild.

19. What's the most useful thing you've learnt in the last year? How to manage my own expectations.

20. What would you like to change about the world? Too many things so I'd rather not go there.

To view designs visit the Design Indaba online shop.

Going from social worker to fashion and graphic designer sounds a bit like going from one extreme to the next. But in fact Chris Kilchling from Undacova Clothing has also worked as a snowboard instructor, a surfboard designer, an architectural studio intern and a club manager. In October 2008 he co-founded Undacova Clothing, and the rest is a local design success story.

1. What's the most coveted item in your wardrobe? It's a collective. My evolving collection of graphic T-Shirts and all my Undacova Underwear pieces.

2. Do you recycle? I do. I recycle culture. My work is a result of all that stimulates and inspires me, which has been filtered, altered and reutilised.

3. Who are your heroes in real life? I don't really have heroes. But Madiba comes close.

4. Do you have a creative/business muse? I like Jeremy Scott and the way he has managed to grow his brand and diversify his business. I also really enjoy Denis Simachev's work - he is a Russian streetwear designer. His colourful collections with detailed references to Russian culture and folklore are amazing. He is also not afraid to take a humorous approach to fashion. He has opened a club, has designed furniture, cars, motorbikes, sunglasses, jewellery, even Barbie dolls. I respect a man who never stands still and spreads his creativity widely.

5. What makes you laugh you loud? Small kids and their, sometimes, brutal honesty.

6. Are you passionate about South Africa? I am very passionate about South Africa. I don't think there is any other place in the world that clicks so well with my diverse nature. I feel like I am part of this country's future and I want to make the best of it.

7. If not design, what would you do? I love to create. So if not fashion and graphic design maybe I would be an architect. I also worked as a snowboard instructor when I was living in Europe. I enjoy the great outdoors and believe in sport as an educational tool. So I could do that and combine it with my love for traveling.

8. What advice would you give emerging creatives? Design has to be your passion. Don't just answer briefs. The motivation to create has to come from inside of you. Make yourself happy and other people will get it too. And this: There is no elevator to success, you have to take the stairs!

9. How do you know when a design is complete? I usually don't design anything and send it away for production immediately (unless I have to for time reasons). I always sleep over it and have a look at it again in the morning. Then I immediately know whether it still needs work or not. However, “complete” is very relative. In most cases I will look at a design in retrospect and think that I could have done it better. This doesn't mean, though, that at a certain moment in time a design isn't complete. It's a natural progression that at a later point in time a design might feel outdated.

10. What's the question you ask yourself the most? Can I still make it better?

11. What's the first thing you think of when you wake up in the morning? The blinking light on my Blackberry usually has me thinking business first thing after waking up. I have checked my emails by the time I get out of bed and I have also been on Twitter. My next point on the agenda is coffee.

12. What's the best piece of design you've seen recently? Although I would never buy a million rand car, the new Mercedes SLS has me in awe. I think that often times car designers don't get it right if they update a classic shape. In this case, though, they did a great job.

13. What's one thing that you haven't done that you would still really like to do? I have a couple of ideas in my head regarding conceptual underwear collections that I want to create in the future. Outside of my job, there is still a lot of traveling I want to do.

14. What inspires you? Life.

15. What's your favourite film? Pulp Fiction always entertains. And I love Shawshank Redemption.

16. What's the next big thing in design? Anything that is truly sustainable.

17. Summer or winter? Both! Life is about balance.

18. When last did you take a holiday? I take micro holidays. Half a day of leisure can do wonders. I also just came back from a week-long trip to Namibiathat  was absolutely mind blowing. The raw nature of the bush has a cleansing effect on body and soul. There are just no shenanigans out in the wild.

19. What's the most useful thing you've learnt in the last year? How to manage my own expectations.

20. What would you like to change about the world? Too many things so I'd rather not go there.