Visualizing silhouettes for the male form is an ability that comes as second nature for menswear designer Emily Bode. With a natural affinity for repurposing vintage and antique fabrics, Bode is claiming an entirely new sector of menswear with an immediately identifiable sense of aesthetic. As her namesake label has gained worldwide attention in recent years, Bode has not only been able to expand her artistic scope and high-fashion offerings with updated fabrics and more intricate techniques, she has also made her mark on the globe, staging her runway show in Paris for her insistent clients in the European market.

Last month, the highly-acclaimed designer received the prestigious Karl Lagerfeld Innovation Award from The Woolmark Company, during the International Woolmark Prize event, an accolade bestowed only upon fashion’s most influential visionary. Presented to Bode by Carine Roitfeld, a close friend of Lagerfeld, the Innovation Award granted Bode with both a newfound honor and 100,000 Australian dollars to fund the growth of her trailblazing fashion label. Now a seasoned expert, Bode is undoubtedly altering the landscape of men’s fashion, defining its next generation with each of her forward-thinking collections.

VMAN spoke with the award-winning designer on her sartorial inspirations, winning the Karl Lagerfeld Innovation Award, and her move to Paris.

Read what Emily Bode had to share, below.

VMAN: Can you tell us about the inspiration behind this collection?

Emily Bode: The inspiration for the collection was my close friend and collaborator Benjamin Bloomstein. I was interested in his stories of his unorthodox childhood education, and these historic communities that were founded on self-sufficiency, craft, and reuse.

VMAN: Could you tell us about your affinity for menswear as opposed to womenswear?

EB: I have always been intrigued by menswear and designing for someone outside of myself. I had always collected vintage and antique fabrics and menswear while growing up in Atlanta and spending summers in New England.

VMAN: How does Paris play a role in the growth of your brand?

EB: Our move to show in Paris was quite simply a business decision. Over half of our overall business is based in Europe, and our buyers and press didn’t have the same budgets to attend NYFW as they once did- and men’s week was the first to get affected. The season I made the move we were a finalist for the LVMH prize.

VMAN: How do you feel about New York Fashion Week and the changing fashion week landscape?

EB: I think that brands need to do what is best for them and the current climate. I am committed to having a presence in New York and we continue to do events and activations alongside NYFW both with and without our store in Chinatown.

VMAN: What are your views on sustainability within the fashion industry?

EB: It is important for all businesses to think innovatively about sustainability. Being sustainable doesn’t have to mean using eco-textiles or new technology in their fabrications. It may mean supporting local manufacturers, using less chemicals, working towards zero-waste, and supporting domestic or woman-owned or historic crafts-based businesses.

VMAN: Despite your success, are there any struggles you face as a newer designer?

EB: The struggle for me is to not get caught up in all of the day-to-day stress that the industry is known for- it’s important to keep in mind our bigger goal, the larger picture for growth.

VMAN: What’s next for yourself and for BODE after winning the Karl Lagerfeld Innovation Award?

EB: We are beginning to have a real focus on retail and expand that model. I am also really excited about expanding on these incredible relationships I met during the prize. We met incredible suppliers and manufacturers from all over the world that share a similar love of storytelling, craft, and historic techniques.