Wowlebrity Michael Schmidt gave a fascinating interview to Diane Pernet’s blog A Shaded View of Fashion, about that instantly iconic 3D dress he made for Dita Von Teese, his upcoming line of 3D-printed jewelry, creating outfits for the likes of Madonna, Lady Gaga, and Cher, as well as some of his early influences:

“Of course, my influences extend from the mostly nameless créateurs forging the life-saving chain-maille armor of the 13th century and beyond, to a not-so-different master of the 20th century, Paco Rabanne. As a child in the ’70s I was mesmerized by Bob Mackie’s creations for Cher and Carol Burnett which informed my notions of how glamorous a woman could be. Later, as a teen in Kansas City, I had a close friend named Nicky who would create all sorts of wonderful garments from repurposed clothing, fabrics and notions. I would sit and watch him endlessly sewing buttons, leather, sequins, etc. into completely new and wonderfully wearable pieces. Nick Cave is now a world-famous sculptor known for his astonishing Soundsuits, coveted by collectors and museums, but when we were teens he influenced me greatly to challenge my ideas of what a great garment could be and what it could be created from.”

Now, I’ve known Michael for almost 30 years, and I NEVER knew he was teenage chums with the artist Nick Cave! That BLOWS MY MIND! And explains A LOT.