By Cassell Ferere

Fresh off of a quarantine, Timo Helgert is blessing us with a blossoming view of the REDValentino Spring-Summer 2021 Pre-Collection. Creatives in quarantine are making their comeback and Helgert wants you to have your flowers along with your fashion.

REDValentino and Helgert have crafted a brand new story where Mother Nature reclaims the fast-paced city streets we catwalk every day. That little bit of nature Helgert is “creating” is respectively raising awareness of our natural world while still appreciating the modernity of it all.

Helgert encourages creatives to recognize their surroundings and explore while they still can. And with this collaboration with REDValentino, Helgert is seeing the value in expression through fashion in sending that message. 

REDValentino has created dresses and separates that evoke romanticism. Jacquard trench coat, knitted cardigans, and capes, all are refined to have an artisanal feel to the touch.

Designed with timeless gingham patterns, decorated with blooms of flowers cut in bold silhouettes.

The collection carries oversized bows, d’espirit tulle skirts, skirt suits, windbreakers, and quilted outerwear styles that will help with the winter transition to fall.

Timo Helgert is a german artist, best known for his viral virtual installations.

His work draws inspiration from classical escapism and draws on the recognizable elements of major modern cities. He has worked with brands such as Apple, Balenciaga, Puma, and Zara through his agency "Vacades" which he founded in 2012.

Helgert creates inspiring, escapist art through the use of new digital techniques, augmented reality, and 3D design. He aims to create hope and peace in a busy world. Timo's work has been featured by Forbes, ELLE Magazine, Mercedes Benz Fashion Week, Facebook, and more.

Working through a lockdown, Vacades, along with the REDValentino team, diligently coordinated their collaborative efforts across the European continent, all the way from Munich, Germany where Helgert is located, to the Roman fashion house in Italy.

This type of creative endeavor is less familiar for RED and its obstacles were manageable as a creative for Helgert. 

Nonetheless, both parties relied on Zoom meetings, and his design tech to convey messages and artwork for review in how the campaign would result. With travel bans in place, Helgert had an advantage in adapting to the status quo, still creating the city scenes he has been known for recently.

REDValetino, who approached Helgert, would be confident in his re-creations of the city without going there to photograph them. Helgerts crafty resilience and approach have been uniquely his own, and as a creative, encourages other creatives to find what gets you excited in your craft. 

Helgert says,

“While there is no ‘one size fits all’ solution, everyone’s path is truly unique and challenging. I think there are a few life lessons that I learned in all my career [as a] digital artist. I advise them to explore as much as they can.”

Helgert takes a keen eye to his craft, and on the basis that he has always taken the appropriate steps to hone his creativity into the artist, he is today. 

“I often get asked from students, what’s the best direction to take - this school or this course?”

recalls Helgert.

“It’s neither. A creative career needs a lot of exploration and sometimes late nights. You get better by practice and many mistakes.”

Helgert goes deeper into how to navigate as a creative, “You need to choose a path that you love because otherwise the mistakes will bring you down and you can’t see them as crucial lessons.” 

He takes note of his life, looking back to where he is now, 

“I started with filmmaking, photography, logo design, digital photo editing. Those are now essentials in my craft.You really can just connect the dots, when looking back, not when looking into the future…”

Choose something you love, even if it’s just photography, and embrace it.”

REDValentino is crafting a newer perspective for Timo Helgert, ultimately. The digital artist recognizes the influence behind fashion and in this case how it can raise the awareness of people to ideas, stories, and concepts beyond their normal registry of thought. 

Helgert goes on to say, “Fashion helps us to express ourselves and makes life more interesting. If you break down any expression of art, the essence is very connected. It’s a way of telling a story and creating emotions in a world which anticipates it.”

“I would say [my art] is focused on emotions and escapism. My focus is to create something universal. [...] to me [fashion] is an extension of ourselves and it’s a story we show the world.”

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