Institute: What is your creative background?

Stephania: I’ve been dancing all my life, studied acting and film in New York and Ive always experimented with music.

Institute: What made you take the career path of a fashion designer?

Stephania: I never chose that, I was commissioned to do a collection for a show. I started my label as a result of this show, my aesthetic sense of style has always been strong so designing is just an extension of my artistic expression.

Institute: Steffi Crown was founded in 2011. How does it feel to of made such an impact in such a short period of time?

Stephania: It feels like I am doing something right. Being recognised when you have worked hard to create something special is a great reward. Being featured at the Cannes film festival in 2011 also opened doors in the fashion world for me, so these worlds go hand in hand.

Institute: Does originating from Cyprus heavily influence your work?

Stephania: I have a big infatuation with the Mediterranean ocean that surrounds my island. She’s my muse and draws me like a magnetic power. It definitely influenced one of my first prints, the Blue Coral.

Institute: What is the creative process when designing a Steffi Crown garment?

Stephania: It’s always different. It could be a feeling, a corner of a building or a texture.

It starts from something like that and then the sketch breathes life into it. The rest is math and attention to detail

Institute: Your leather garments are exceptional, what is it about the material you love so much?

Stephania:  They fit the balance between comfort luxury and edge which represents the S.C label.The leather as with everything Steffi Crown is top quality. Lamb skin for the jackets, napa stretch leather for the custom spiked pants that fit like second skin and don’t bag in the butt. I love it because it’s bad ass.

Institute: Do you have specific women in mind when designing?

Stephania: powerful, brash, statement makers from uptown to downtown, but I always like the touch of fun and humour

Institute: What are your thoughts on fashion today?

Stephania: It’s limitless, Because of the transgression of cultures. We live in a global world where u can be or wear anything u want and that’s awesome. Im also very excited about textile innovation and the idea of intelligent design in fashion.

Institute: Where do you think trends are created?

Stephania: they start in the universe and end up in the streets. It’s a social mood, an attitude towards the current that we are all connected to. Whether its consciously or not they reflect in all forms of expression and artists are more sensitive to it.

Institute: Whose work inspires you most and where do you turn for inspiration?

Stephania: I turn for inspiration everywhere I am while I’m awake and alive but there are certain types of things that speak to me. I like art that shakes up the norm, Louise Bourgeois  and Banksy are some of the artists that move me because in her case she evoked the emotion and intensity of the human psyche, her dark element and grandeur I love, Banksy has the rebellious and urban spirit that speaks to the people for the people, his anonymity is part of his art

Institute: What has been your career highlight to date?

Stephania: It would be a tie between having my first film in Cannes and having the opportunity to promote the couture collection to Hollywood A-Listers at the 2012 Golden Globes.

Institute: What can we expect to see from Steffi Crown this year?

Stephania: The progression of the S.C label into an art house brand that represents me fully as an artist. Expect an explosive fashion performance film and an urban inspired street wear collection.