Michael Michalsky

Michalsky was born on 23 February 1967 in Göttingen and grew up in Rümpel near Bad Oldesloe where he graduated from the Theodor Mommsen secondary school in 1987. Until 1992, he studied at the London College of Fashion.{{cite web |url=http://www.fashion.arts.ac.uk/alumni/profiles/michaelmichalsky/ |title=London College of Fashion – Michael Michalsky |publisher=Fashion.arts.ac.uk |access-date=24 October 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120330161012/http://www.fashion.arts.ac.uk/alumni/profiles/michaelmichalsky/ |archive-date=30 March 2012 }} After his graduation, Michalsky kept his promise to work in the hospice Lighthouse: "It was shocking, my first experience with death and AIDS. It was there that I realised: fashion, being hip and knowing famous people is completely unimportant if you don't have an emotional base".

Michalsky's main source of inspiration is music. He was heavily influenced by London's youth culture during the 1980s, when the rise of music videos and the success of MTV strengthened the link between music and fashion. Until today, Michalsky admires the 1980s pop icon Madonna: "I am a true fan of Madonna. She has inspired me with her looks and her music for almost all my life."

Besides music, Michalsky is also passionate about photography: "I collect photos of Yva, the famous fashion photographer from Berlin during the 1920s and 1930s who also taught Helmut Newton, of Edmund Kesting, Herbert List and F.C. Gundlach with his fashion portraits of the 1950s. And I am also fascinated by architecture."

Image:MICHALSKY StyleNite SS13 Stage.jpg at Berlin Fashion Week]]

file:Michalsky%26Padberg.JPG at Frankfurt Hair and Beauty show, 2014]]

After university, Michalsky started his career as design manager at Levi Strauss & Co. in Germany. From 1995 until early 2006, he worked at adidas AG where he held the position as Global Creative Director for six years.{{cite web|url=http://en.red-dot.org/1741.html?&L=1red |title=red dot online: Michael Michalsky leaves adidas |publisher=En.red-dot.org |date=17 March 2006 |access-date=24 October 2011}} During this time, Michalsky initiated and developed cooperations and product lines with the fashion designers Yohji Yamamoto and Stella McCartney as well as with rap musician Missy Elliott. He was also responsible for the re-launch of older adidas products in a "Retro-look".{{cite web|url=http://www.indexmagazine.com/interviews/michael_michalsky.shtml |title=index magazine interview |publisher=Indexmagazine.com |date= |access-date=24 October 2011}}

In May 2005, Michalsky was approached by the Korean luxury group Sungjoo with the task to revive the tarnished fashion brand MCM.{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2006/08/07/style/07iht-fmichal.2409523.html?pagewanted=all |title=After Adidas, designer sports own aesthetic |work=The New York Times |date=7 August 2006 |access-date=26 October 2011 |last1=Tzortzis |first1=Andreas }} He holds the position as creative director at the luxury goods brand with German heritage until today.{{cite web|url=http://blog.mcmworldwide.com/view/?category=0&keyword=&keyword2=texi&pageSeq=1&seq=316 |title=MCM - Meet the Key Players Behind-the-Scenes|access-date=26 October 2011}}

In 2006, Michalsky founded fashion and lifestyle company Michalsky Holding GmbH in Berlin. In January 2007, he launched his first fashion show in the city hall Rotes Rathaus.

In 2014, Michalsky appeared on America's Next Top Model; he became the director when cycle 21 of ANTM models did a MCM bags photoshoot in Seoul City Hall.

The designer presents the latest collection of his label Michalsky twice a year during Mercedes Benz Berlin Fashion Week.[http://www.fashionwiredaily.com/first_word/runway/article.weml?id=882 Michalsky Rocks Berlin's City Hall]{{cite web |url=http://www.mercedes-benzfashionweek.com/shows/michalsky.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080204150832/http://www.mercedes-benzfashionweek.com/shows/michalsky.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=4 February 2008 |title=MICHALSKY: Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Berlin 2012 |publisher=Mercedes-benzfashionweek.com |access-date=24 October 2011 }}

Besides working for his own label and the brand MCM, Michalsky also designs sportswear collections for the company Kappa China since 2009. Kappa China belongs to the Chinese sporting goods group Dongxiang.{{cite web|url=http://news.everychina.com/wz413a20/michael_michalsky_x_kappa_p_a_c_series_officially_launched.html |title=Michael Michalsky X Kappa P-A.C series officially launched(91612) |publisher=News.everychina.com |date=20 May 2011 |access-date=24 October 2011}}

On July 5, 2021, the television station RTL announced that Michalsky would be part of the jury for Das Supertalent in 2021 alongside Lukas Podolski and Chantal Janzen.{{Cite web |last=Online |first=R. T. L. |title=Supertalent 2021: Michael Michalsky & Chantal Janzen machen die Jury komplett |url=https://www.rtl.de/cms/supertalent-2021-michael-michalsky-chantal-janzen-machen-die-jury-komplett-4790248.html |access-date=2022-08-03 |website=RTL Online |date=28 September 2021 |language=de}}

• 2003 "National Designer of the Year" awarded by GQ Germany
• 2004 "Sportstyle Designer of the Year" awarded by the ISPO VISION
• 2005 Red Dot Design Team of the Year together with his adidas-designteam{{cite web|url=http://en.red-dot.org/1354.html |title=red dot online: adidas chosen as design team of the year |publisher=En.red-dot.org |date=24 June 2005 |access-date=24 October 2011}}
• 2006 Featured in the exhibition "100 Heads of Tomorrow" (German: 100 Köpfe von Morgen) which was commissioned by the government initiative "Germany – Land of Ideas" (German: Deutschland – Land der Ideen)

Michalsky's fashion range is broad and diverse as he creates fashion for various segments: premium apparel, sportswear, bags and accessories. His own collection Michalsky belongs to the high fashion segment and combines classic styles with streetwear influences. Michalsky sees himself not as an artist, but as a lifestyle designer.{{cite web |url=http://fashion.sugarhigh.de/the-pack-leader |title=The pack leader |access-date=26 October 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101220150804/http://fashion.sugarhigh.de/the-pack-leader |archive-date=20 December 2010 }} With his designs, he wants to address a wide range of people and encourage a joyful approach to fashion. This mindset is expressed in the claim "Real Clothes for Real People".{{cite web|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB126411349523732869 |title=Michalsky Keeps It Real - WSJ.com |publisher=Online.wsj.com |date=22 January 2010 |access-date=24 October 2011}}

Overview of current design works:

File:Michalsky Madonna Bag -7.png by Michalsky]]

In 2009, Michalsky founded the agency Michalsky Designlab in 2009, offering design services in the areas of product and interior design.

Work examples of Michalsky DesignLab:

• 2009: Summer Mobile Collection 2009 for Sony{{cite web|url=http://www.confashion.com/ss2010/michalsky7-2009.htm |title=confashion - confashion.com - moving confessions, runway shows |publisher=confashion.com |date=3 July 2009 |access-date=24 October 2011}}
• 2009: Leather collection for the world premiere of the concept car BMW Vision EfficientDynamics, presented during IAA
• 2010: 500 costumes for the revue show YMA at Friedrichstadt-Palast in Berlin{{cite web|url=http://www.show-palace.eu/en/shows/yma/ |title=Yma « Friedrichstadt-Palast Berlin |publisher=Show-palace.eu |date= |access-date=24 October 2011}}
• 2010: Design of the product packaging of the laundry detergent Ariel{{cite web|url=http://youarebestdressed.blogspot.com/2011/07/michael-michalsky-for-ariel-city-style.html |title=Michael Michalsky for Ariel "City Style - Because You Love It Clean"|access-date=26 October 2011}}
• 2011: Design of the Catwalk-Bar in Berlin's Marriott Hotel at Potsdamer Platz, Germany's first fashion bar{{cite web |url=http://www.dw-world.de/dw/article/0,,14801553,00.html |title=Fashion Designer Michael Michalsky Creates Bar | Home | Deutsche Welle |publisher=Dw-world.de |date= |access-date=24 October 2011 }}{{Dead link|date=May 2019 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}
• 2012: Product Design for Spreequell - Michael Michalsky created an exclusive, elegant bottle design - Q Spreequell Premium{{cite web |url=http://www.spreequell-premiumq.de/designkompetenz/flaschendesign/ |title=Q Spreequell Premium |publisher=spreequell-premiumq.de |access-date=16 August 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130828231853/http://www.spreequell-premiumq.de/designkompetenz/flaschendesign/ |archive-date=28 August 2013 }}

In September 2010, Michalsky presented his first two fragrances, Michalsky for Men and Michalsky for Women. The perfume was created in cooperation with the fragrance house Mäurer & Wirtz.{{cite web|url=http://www.moodiereport.com/document.php?c_id=29&doc_id=22425 |title=Mãurer & Wirtz signs new fragrance licences - 19/11/09 |publisher=TheMoodieReport.com |date= |access-date=24 October 2011}} The launch of the perfume was accompanied by an advertising campaign which caused a sensation in public due to its erotic character. The campaign theme pictures a man and a woman in a highly provocative position.{{cite web|url=http://www.malemodelscene.net/eugen-bauder/eugen-bauder-michalsky/ |title=Eugen Bauder for Michalsky |publisher=Malemodelscene.net |date=8 September 2010 |access-date=24 October 2011}}

In September 2011, the second perfume series Michalsky Urban Nomads for men and women was launched. The theme corresponds to the inspiration of the Michalsky Fall/Winter 2011 collection.{{cite web|url=http://www.perfumediary.com/new-perfumes/michael-michalsky-urban-nomads-new-perfumes/ |title=Michael Michalsky Urban Nomads, New Perfumes|date=13 September 2011 |access-date=26 October 2011}}

Since 2008, the Michalsky eyewear collection is produced and marketed by the company Nigura Metzler. The collection consists of sunglasses, correctional frames and a limited edition. The latest eyewear collection is presented bi-annually at the Michalsky fashion show.{{cite web|url=http://www.nigura-metzler.de/en/about-nigura-metzler/press/press-reports/detail/2011/02/17/michalsky-eyewear-kollektion-erfolgreich-auf-der-internationalen-optik-trendmesse-praesentiert.html |title=Nigura Metzler: The Michalsky Eyewear Collection successfully launched|publisher=Nigura-metzler.de |date=17 February 2011 |access-date=24 October 2011}}

In October 2012, Michalsky presented his first METROPOLIS by MICHALSKY LIVING Sofa Collection produced and marketed by the company Polipol.{{cite web |url=http://www.michalsky.com/michalsky-living/die-sofas/ |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130816085839/http://www.michalsky.com/michalsky-living/die-sofas/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=16 August 2013 |title=MICHALSKY LIVING Sofa Collection |date=16 August 2013 |access-date=24 October 2012 }}

Actually he has expanded his successful LIVING Collection with wallpapers by A.S. Création and carpets by Reinkemeier Rietberg - out at the stores in fall 2013 {{cite web|url=http://www.as-creation.de/tapeten/brands/michalsky-living.html |title=MICHALSKY LIVING wallpaper Collection |date=16 August 2013 |access-date=16 August 2013}}{{cite web |url=http://www.reinkemeier-rietberg.de/startseite/handel/marken/metropolis-by-michalsky-living/ |title=MICHALSKY LIVING carpet Collection |date=16 August 2013 |access-date=16 August 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130828141502/http://www.reinkemeier-rietberg.de/startseite/handel/marken/metropolis-by-michalsky-living/ |archive-date=28 August 2013 }}

{{Main|Berlin Fashion Week#StyleNite}}

The Michalsky fashion shows gradually evolved to the Stylenite, a cultural event organised by the designer taking place twice a year during Berlin Fashion Week. Besides the women and men fashion shows, the event schedule includes performances in the areas of music, film and art. Among the artists who have performed at previous StyleNites were: Lady Gaga, Spandau Ballet, Hurts, Mirrors, OMD, Nadja Michael, Alphaville, Icona Pop, MS MR.

{{reflist}}

{{Commons category|Michael Michalsky}}

• [https://www.michalsky.com/ Michalsky's website]
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20141023131246/http://www.michalsky.com/en/stylenite/ StyleNite website]
• [http://www.michalsky.tv Michael Michalsky TV channel]
• [http://www.les-bottes-me-bottent.fr/michalsky-bottes-beige/ Bottes Michalsky]
• [http://www.mcmworldwide.com/ MCM fashion label website]

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Category:1967 births

Category:German brands

Category:German fashion designers

Category:High fashion brands

Category:Living people

Category:Artists from Berlin