Nightshift x C12: the interview

We are thrilled to talk about our collaboration with Nightshift, a collective and laboratory for artistic research and production based in Brussels. Aroused by their beautiful aesthetics and clever approach, we set up a limited run of 4 items in our webshop. For the occasion we sat down with the crew to discuss their art practice, values and many other things.

C12: How did this collaboration come to life?
All of us have spent quite some time in C12, we are children of the night. So we were thrilled when we were contacted by you guys to set up this project. We had a pop-up store last year, just before Covid arrived, and sold a bag to one of your crew members. That might have started it all.

C12: How would you describe Nightshift’s philosophy?
Our collective was created three years ago and is the result of a long friendship that lasts for a decade or so. For a long time we have been making t-shirts and selling them among friends. While realizing the demand for our work was rising, we decided to officialize our structures and create a tangible collection for prêt-à-porter.

C12: How is Nightshift organised behind the scenes? 
We try to work as independently as possible and control the process from A till Z, which includes designs, printing, communication and distribution among others. We are a team of eight people divided in two groups. One team is bridging the gap between prêt-à-porter and couture, they are architectes, stylistes, designers, … while the other team consists of photographers, designers, videographers and even an accountant. We all share a passion for fashion and couture. The clothing you might know us from is only just the top of the iceberg, we work on many other things.

C12: What’s the inspiration for the C12 x Nightshift collection? 
We have found inspiration in the streets of Brussels. Just as C12, we wish to push forward our city and its identity. We opted for high standards, since we are against fast fashion with cheap and crappy materials. And obviously the darkness of the night has also inspired us, it’s part of our DNA just as much as it’s part of C12.

Nightshift has selected a playlist to celebrate our collaboration.