So much more than ‘just’ a fashion label, Bless is in fact a lifestyle (that comes free of style), an attitude, a view of the world. Founded in 1996 by Desiree Heiss and Ines Kaag and based in Paris and Berlin, Bless has always had its own way of seeing and doing: be it the famous fur wigs that were picked up by Maison Martin Margiela, or chairs that function as hoovers, or combs made out of (real) hair, or desks that turn into beds – you never know what to expect from Bless.

Renowned as a fashion label for quirky and unusual womenswear long before they actually presented their first regular collection, Bless successfully defies categorization by straddling the different worlds of fashion, industrial design and fine art with impressive ease and style. The underlying thread to all products and projects, however, is a constant questioning and rethinking of our world. And so, no matter what the designers set their delicate minds to, in the end it will always feel so surprisingly and refreshingly Bless.

In an interview that continuously reverses the roles of interviewer and interviewees, Bless talked with mono.kultur about the similarities between fashion and furniture, the importance of food, and their determination to improve our world.

The issue contains two separate booklets with a rollercoaster ride of an interview on your left, and the official lookbook of Bless’s latest collection N° 43 Know Howowow on your right.

Interview by Adriano Sack / Artwork courtesy of Bless / Design by Manuel Raeder

“Printed on uncoated stock that’s heavy with ink, issue #28 of MONO. KULTUR is a deliciously tactile little volume, particularly apt given the focus of the issue is BLESS studio – fashion pioneers and inventors of the fur wig. The double-gatefold magazine is divided neatly between interview and lookbook exploring the studio’s origins and inspiration.”
— It's Nice That