If you recognize something concerning the group at Himkok and their strategy to creating their cocktail menus, you’ll know they by no means do something by halves. You’ll additionally know that they like to collaborate with fellow Norwegian creatives. Their final, massively thrilling partnering noticed them group up with the the sensible illustrator Esra Røise. The end result? Solely the primary cocktail menu on the earth to discover the NFT area.
So the place would they flip subsequent? Cue music, cue lights, cue runway and strike a pose avec cocktail naturellement, for the tremendous cool Trend Meets Mixology assortment. Sure, the drinks are issues of magnificence on the attention and understanding the Himkok crew’s expertise, on the palate however on launch evening, they are going to be represented in silks, chiffons, leather-based and possibly lace. In different phrases, in an evocative clothes assortment impressed by the tastes, textures and hues of the brand new cocktails. Advised you they don’t do issues by halves…
This time, head of analysis and improvement Paul Aguilar and bar supervisor Maros Dzurus, the intense, some may say bonkers minds behind the challenge, have enlisted the expertise of Norwegian designer Eline Dragesund. The end result of the highly-anticipated alliance shall be revealed in a one-of-a-kind style present on September twenty eighth. Oh sure, we’re speaking catwalk, we’re speaking fashions, we’re speaking fabulous, which requires a reasonably darned particular location, proper? The spectacular Sky Room at Munch Museum in Oslo, with its jaw-dropping views over the town, is sure to do the trick. Because the worldwide visitors attending the occasion will little doubt discover out.
On present 13 distinctive and completely clothes; to drink, 13 unbelievable cocktails – all impressed by Norwegian elements and flavours.
We spoke to Paul, Maros and Eline just a few months forward of the launch to speak about why cocktails and couture make the right combo.
Paul, Maros, not being humorous however you don’t appear like style sorts. What led you to show to the world of couture to specific the creativity in your drinks?
Paul: We love collaborating, we love pushing boundaries and we completely love working with fellow artistes and studying from different folks. For us, there are such a lot of similarities with style and mixology, with each types of creativity drawing on innovation, expression and individuality. We truly needed to do a style challenge two years in the past however one thing like this takes such a very long time to do. We’ve by no means put so many assets into one challenge.
More durable than the NFTs?
Maros: It’s undoubtedly the most important challenge we’ve performed in our eight years and it’s our most bold but. We’re pleased with every little thing we’ve performed up up to now however this one may be very particular – it’s taken numerous planning.
What was the toughest a part of the collaboration?
Paul: Discovering the precise particular person to work with, somebody keen to take it on. We all the time has 13 cocktails on our menus, so we had been searching for a designer who may create a group of 13 items, however greater than that, we would have liked to search out somebody who may seize our fashion of drinks.
Why Eline?
Paul: We began pitching the thought to numerous designers however they discovered the challenge too bold. We additionally went to a significant designer who quoted an astronomical price range – briefly, it took a very long time to search out the precise particular person. We ultimately discovered Eline by way of Jens Carlos who shall be supervising the catwalk present. We met, defined the challenge and she or he stated sure just about right away.
Eline, what attracted you to the challenge?
The issue of the entire thing. It’s undoubtedly essentially the most difficult task I’ve ever taken on however I like that. As a designer, after I normally begin a challenge, I take inspiration from the visuals however with this, I may very well be impressed by the style, textures, associations, vibe, or take into consideration the kind of one who may select this explicit drink. What would they appear like? What would they put on? There have been so some ways into the challenge and that actually excited me.
I’ve truly used all of these components within the designs however I’ve needed to steadiness it out a bit as a result of there are such a lot of elements concerned – which was in all probability essentially the most troublesome a part of the entire thing. If you work in style, it may be a bit of boring generally however this challenge actually excited me.
You say that you just’ve used a variety of methods to strategy the person designs, what was your place to begin?
Paul and Maros despatched me the menu and elements at first, then we had a menu tasting which was videoed for me to refer again to. I used to be pregnant on the time, which meant I couldn’t truly style the cocktails, not totally, I simply swirled them round my mouth to get a sense of them earlier than spitting them out. My associate helped me lots as he obtained to style them correctly after which described them to me in additional element. I feel he preferred the analysis! However Paul and Maros had been nice as they supplied full descriptions, colors, flavour profiles, particulars of garnishes and many others, so I had lots to work with.
What was the temporary?
Maros: Principally, we had been searching for simplicity, designs to mirror our cocktails. We needed somebody with the identical strategy to Norwegian tradition and Norwegian id of their designs as we’ve in our cocktails.
Paul: The challenge was fairly well-organised. By the point we met Eline, we already had the menu performed and every little thing was just about prepared to begin manufacturing, so we had been in a position to give her our concepts, and a PDF with descriptions of the cocktail and the entire elements. So it was a case of ‘that is what’s inside, that is sort of what we’d wish to see mirrored, however actually, like the entire artistes we work with, how she selected to interpret the entire thing was utterly as much as her. The gathering is Himkok by way of Eline’s eyes.
Eline, how does this challenge examine to others that you just’ve labored on?
Every part was very clear and actually well-organised. Which was essential as I used to be about six months pregnant at first of the challenge, so timelines needed to work for everybody. All of us had entry to budgets so we may see the place the cash was going, all of us had strong time frames to work to and all of it felt very secure, very structured.
Paul/Maros, are you able to give us an concept of one of many cocktails and Eline, are you able to describe the way you interpret them in garments?
Paul: One of many drinks is known as Sea Buckthorn which options Himkok’s Sea Buckthorn Distillate, Cointreau and orange water kefir, St. Halvard [a Norwegian liqueur), strawberry and rhubarb wine and apple and grape acidities. It’s garnished with a piece of Kvikk Lunsj [Norwegian chocolate]. What we needed to imitate with this one is a Norwegian drink known as Solo – it’s like Fanta and really embroidered into Norwegian tradition. Our cocktail is a Highball as we needed to recreate these soda recollections that Norwegians have from childhood. I imply, I nonetheless drink it – numerous folks do, it’s a type of drinks you’ve, significantly throughout Easter holidays. It’s very contemporary, very orange, very vibrant.
Eline, what did the cocktail conjure up for you as a clothier?
A few issues. One was a typical ski situation, as a result of Norwegians go snowboarding within the winter and so they all the time take a Solo with them. The opposite look was extra like a goddess look, with bursts of sunshine and yellow. You’ll have to attend to see the way it turned out!
How do you describe the gathering to this point?
Eline: As a merge of vibes, tastes and characters. I begin by having a imaginative and prescient of one thing after which I’ve to search out the precise materials to remain true to that imaginative and prescient as a result of I don’t need to lose the thought. However generally the imaginative and prescient and actuality will be completely different and alongside the way in which, the design merges into one thing else. The materials information me to the precise expression. Each texture has its personal language.
Paul: What we’ve seen to this point, our minds are utterly blown – it’s one thing else.
So the Trend Meets Mixology assortment shall be launched on September twenty eighth, what subsequent?
Properly, after the catwalk present at Sky Room, the cocktails shall be accessible at Himkok. We’ll maintain on to the garments for some time and determine what we do with them going ahead. As for future collaborations, we’ve performed the unimaginable, put it like that. Principally, we’d wish to be ambassadors for Norwegian tradition, and the inventive and gifted folks from Norway. We’d find it irresistible if folks come to us with an concept for a collaboration. Who is aware of what may occur then?
The Trend Meets Mixology assortment shall be accessible at Himkok from September 28. Comply with @himkok.oslo for extra particulars
