MICHALSKY X PONY: A smashing collaboration MICHALSKY X PONY: A smashing collaboration
MICHALSKY X PONY: A smashing collaboration

Designer Michael Michalsky presented his latest collaboration with American heritage brand PONY during a conference at the July edition of PREMIUM. Accompanied by Anita Tillmann, Managing Partner of the PREMIUM GROUP, and selected guests from the press and media industry, Michalsky talked about his inspiration, the benefits of collabs and Berlin’s fashion status quo.

Tell us a bit about your latest runway collection.

Michael Michalsky: All of my runway looks have been styled with these sneakers that I created in collaboration with PONY. As always my collection has a specific theme and this season it’s called “dream again”. I think we should all fight for our visions again.

What is the inspiration behind the collection?

I took inspiration from boxing. Boxing is much more than just throwing punches. It takes a vision, a goal, flexibility and agility. It has become a real trend sport in the USA. There are so many great design ideas within boxing and I wanted to infuse my couture collection with them.

Couture and boxing, MICHALSKY and PONY – how does it fit together?

I’m not unfamiliar with the sports aesthetic. I’ve worked for a sports retail giant for years and I got to equip boxers back then. I really wanted to create a performance-inspired sneaker that is based on real boxing boots.

PONY is an American brand and the name is short for Product of New York. It’s really interesting because PONY belonged to the Adidas group back in the days. PONY has equipped many pro-boxers with their products. There are some great pictures of famous athletes wearing PONY pieces during a fight – one of them being Muhammad Ali.

I wasn’t looking to design top-performing boxing shoes. They are high-fashion sneakers inspired by the sport of boxing. It’s a completely new design development with completely new features. They’re also kind of the countermovement to these omnipresent chunky shoes. As a sneaker-head, I’m pretty sure the next big thing will be low-sole sneakers. They’ve been gone for too long and that’s why I decided to design these styles like this.

PREMIUM EXHIBITIONS: Collaborations are happening everywhere right now. What’s so special about two brands working together?

MICHAEL MICHALSKY: The great thing about collaborations is that you get to work with people who are experts in their field and the other partner has excellent knowledge about his field. So you can create something that neither partner would have been able to do without the other. I’ve been doing collabs for 20 years now but back in the day when I started working with Yohji Yamamoto I never would have thought that the subject would become so massive and there would be so many collaborations one day. There are really good ones but then some that make you think “why are people doing that?”.

PONY was my dream partner because I wanted to make a really athletic-inspired shoe. I’ve been doing fashion sneakers with my own label but I wanted to get that technical aspect in for these so I could only do it with PONY.

PREMIUM EXHIBITIONS: You’ve known Anita Tillmann for a very long time and to some extent what you two are doing is also some kind of collaboration. How would you describe one another?


ANITA TILLMANN: We’ve known each other for so long that I don’t even want to say how many years. Besides the fact that we’re close friends, I find Michi to be one of the most inspiring, forward-thinking and brave designers Europe has to offer. He just makes things happen and he doesn’t care what other people have to say. He has built and realized things for which he has been laughed at by people – and now they’re mad at themselves for thinking so and cannot help but admire him. I am very proud of him and his career.

MICHAEL MICHALSKY: I’ve obviously known Anita for just as long – when PREMIUM was so “big” that you had seen it all in two minutes and everybody was freezing because it was colder inside than outside. Still it was a great PREMIUM edition. I admire Anita’s courage and her way of providing new impulses and bringing about change. If she hadn’t started it all back then – despite everyone telling her it was a mistake – the PREMIUM of today as a worldwide leading trade show would not exist. Now there is also so much happening around PREMIUM and I think her hard work merits great esteem.

PREMIUM EXHIBITIONS: You are both key players of Berlin Fashion Week. What has this week been like for each of you? And what’s the vibe in Berlin right now?


ANITA TILLMANN: Well, you work half a year for these three days. From an economical point of view, I always think that these three days need to get us through the next six months. So there’s always a certain tension. However, the weather was great; we had amazing people and brands at the trade shows. I am also very pleased about PONY because I like heritage, DNA, craftsmanship and quality.

MICHAEL MICHALSKY: I’m showing my collection for the twelfth time in Berlin now. I feel a certain satisfaction about the development that has happened. At the beginning I tried explaining to people that Berlin is unique and incomparable. It was difficult for them to understand because people like to compare. That’s why I’m especially pleased about the change and the different platforms – whether it’s PREMIUM with all its trade shows, VOGUE Salon, the Mercedes Benz events or the off-site shows. I’m happy about every designer who has the courage to show in Berlin because I know how hard it is. Step by step, we’ve been able to differentiate ourselves from other fashion locations. The fact is we’re in Berlin and Berlin shows fashion the way it is, meaning from high-end to streetwear and from couture to skate. There are no longer clear boundaries and that’s one thing Berlin is very strong at.

 

Talk us through the different sneaker styles from the MICHALSKY X PONY collab. 

There are two different styles: firstly, high-cut – just like they use in boxing – meaning ankle-height and a low sole. However, I know that not everyone wants to look like a pro-boxer so I created a low-cut version as well. We used different materials such as mega air mesh; there are limited editions in gold, styles rendered in nappa leather, as well as a very limited deluxe edition made from python.

How would you style the high-cut sneakers in daily life?

I would combine them with a skirt or very tight pants. I also like them with 7/8-cut pants. You don’t have to tie them all the way up because I created a little hole at the back where you can tie the shoelaces. These boots also look great when the tongue and the upper are a bit loose. That’s why the inside of the shoe is exquisite as well, because you’ll be able to see it.

Collaborations are happening everywhere right now. What’s so special about two brands working together?

The great thing about collaborations is that you get to work with people who are experts in their field and the other partner has excellent knowledge about his field. So you can create something that neither partner would have been able to do without the other. I’ve been doing collabs for 20 years now but back in the day when I started working with Yohji Yamamoto I never would have thought that the subject would become so massive and there would be so many collaborations one day. There are really good ones but then some that make you think “why are people doing that?”.

PONY was my dream partner because I wanted to make a really athletic-inspired shoe. I’ve been doing fashion sneakers with my own label but I wanted to get that technical aspect in for these so I could only do it with PONY.

You’ve known Anita Tillmann for a very long time and to some extent what you two are doing is also some kind of collaboration. How would you describe one another?

Anita Tillmann: We’ve known each other for so long that I don’t even want to say how many years. Besides the fact that we’re close friends, I find Michi to be one of the most inspiring, forward-thinking and brave designers Europe has to offer. He just makes things happen and he doesn’t care what other people have to say. He has built and realized things for which he has been laughed at by people – and now they’re mad at themselves for thinking so and cannot help but admire him. I am very proud of him and his career.

Michael Michalsky: I’ve obviously known Anita for just as long – when PREMIUM was so “big” that you had seen it all in two minutes and everybody was freezing because it was colder inside than outside. Still it was a great PREMIUM edition. I admire Anita’s courage and her way of providing new impulses and bringing about change. If she hadn’t started it all back then – despite everyone telling her it was a mistake – the PREMIUM of today as a worldwide leading trade show would not exist. Now there is also so much happening around PREMIUM and I think her hard work merits great esteem.

You are both key players of Berlin Fashion Week. What has this week been like for each of you? And what’s the vibe in Berlin right now?

Anita Tillmann: Well, you work half a year for these three days. From an economical point of view, I always think that these three days need to get us through the next six months. So there’s always a certain tension. However, the weather was great; we had amazing people and brands at the trade shows. I am also very pleased about PONY because I like heritage, DNA, craftsmanship and quality.

Michael Michalsky: I’m showing my collection for the twelfth time in Berlin now. I feel a certain satisfaction about the development that has happened. At the beginning I tried explaining to people that Berlin is unique and incomparable. It was difficult for them to understand because people like to compare. That’s why I’m especially pleased about the change and the different platforms – whether it’s PREMIUM with all its trade shows, VOGUE Salon, the Mercedes Benz events or the off-site shows. I’m happy about every designer who has the courage to show in Berlin because I know how hard it is. Step by step, we’ve been able to differentiate ourselves from other fashion locations. The fact is we’re in Berlin and Berlin shows fashion the way it is, meaning from high-end to streetwear and from couture to skate. There are no longer clear boundaries and that’s one thing Berlin is very strong at.