Clothes for someone who ‘goes to hardcore concerts but is also a wine-maker’
A newcomer to the fashion scene that possess wisdom way beyond its years, Milk of Lime is the enigmatic brand you should put on your radar. Finding solace in a far-flung town in South-West Germany, Julia Ballardt’s and Nico Verhaegen’s biggest muse is their natural surroundings – and the organically occurring oddities that inform their spellbinding graphics, colour palettes, and confident silhouettes. The brand finds its own grounding beyond the standard practices of the fashion industry, by honouring and surrendering to nature, which is seen in their special drops every full moon. Weaving poetry into each of their pieces, Milk of Lime’s designer language is astute and moves at its own pace – calmly yet fiercely, resembling natural forces themselves. In light of July’s full moon, we spoke to the artists about nurturing their young brand from the ground, sustainability as a buzzword, and their biggest-to-date upcoming show in Berlin.
Hey, great to speak to you! Let’s start in the beginning – how did Milk of Lime come to life?
Nico: Julia and I studied together in Antwerp at the Royal Academy. We got along pretty well, and then moved to Paris together to work for Givenchy. At one point, our contract ran out and we moved to a town in the middle of nowhere in the West Germany.
Julia: It’s really not a fashionable area to be in. But this is where we are today, and we also found some producers here. We’re only a year old, but it’s nice to be connected here.
N: For us, it’s very important that we live first and create second. It was about doing what you love in a place that you love.
The connection with nature seems to be a very palpable point of inspiration within your work. Can you tell me more?
Julia: It is very important to be in a place that inspires you. For us it’s actually being in nature – it’s something you c
