Their brand philosophy is that anything can become an accessory.
Click here to view the D'heygere manifesto.
Can you tell us what your aim was when you decided to rethink the way we see accessories?
I think I was just fed up with the fact that most of the jewelry is just pretty. You can't really play around with jewelry. So I start thinking on how to accessorize an accessory, on how to add another dimension.
It's a conceptual approach. The look of it comes almost at second place, the idea is key.
My first job was at Margiela, so that obviously also influenced me. And I can only be thankful that it did.
What's your definition of No Shame?
I think the word 'freedom' sums it up quite well ;) I would also add 'no regrets'.
What does No Shame mean to you?
No Shame defines freedom to me. The freedom of not being afraid to show yourself and who you are, it means not being oppressed by others. All the restrictions we apply on the idea if being ashamed comes from society. Abandoning the idea of being ashamed for your personality, your body and yourself gives one freedom and air to breath. It allows to push boundaries and to go out of your comfort zone, it gives also space to play and experiment.
What does freedom mean to you?
To me it means to get the chance to work on my projects, to express myself as a creative. I think one has to be humble sometimes for the privilege we’ve been given to work in this field. Freedom is not being ashamed of things and especially not yourself. Freedom also comes with responsibility and gives you power to make change happen.
What is it that drew you to photography?
I love to express my own personality and vision with it, to put meaning into it, to put my emotions into it. I like to create images that can convey something, whatever it may be.
Photography gives me the chance to create certain scenarios and catch the eye of the recipient looking at the imagery weather on a cellphone display, in a gallery or a printed magazine. And with that to convey a feeling, make them think or just to have fun. Also, photography can be very versatile and can be seen in very different contexts and branches. I like the idea that an ad campaign can be seen as a portrait but could also be fine art.
What will photography look like in the future?
Given that photography will adopt in the way we take pictures and the way we value them. Images need to be strong and meaningful to me, with a narrative or something to say before they can go somewhere.
The classic idea of being a “photographer” already changed. In the 19th and 20th century not everyone had the skill neither the means to take images. Besides that, people didn’t have the chance to spread them around the globe within seconds. With the digital revolution this completely shifted, now everyone is a photographer and takes images these days. Us being photographers should see our craft as creating a very certain type of image and creating our very own visual language. Therefore our output, whatever it may be, can give something to society besides just beautiful images. I think there has to be something more.
