Photo by Luca Piras
COURRÈGES was founded in 1961 by French couturier Andrè Courrèges, who introduced space-age fashion to the design industry after a decade working under Cristóbal Balenciaga. The French fashion house is powered today by artistic director Nicolas Di Felice, who brings with him years of experience working for Louis Vuitton, Christian Dior, and Balenciaga. Structural separates and bold colorblocking characterize Courrèges’ men and womenswear today, evoking the heritage of this inimitable house yet constantly reinventing and improving on its signature futurist aesthetic.
DRIES VAN NOTEN With a career spanning over three decades, Belgian designer Dries Van Noten has garnered recognition as one of the foremost purveyors of eclectic style and craftsmanship. Known and celebrated for transcending the conventions of luxury with a serenely subversive aesthetic and cerebral design sensibility, his inimitable approach has landed the third generation tailor and member of the legendary Antwerp Six collective many accolades. While his approach to ready-to-wear and accessories is densely innovative and distinctly future-facing, his fragrance serves as a retrospective on his Flemish upbringing. With references to his roots intertwined with his vision of the future, Dries Van Noten keeps authenticity and expression at the helm of his well-rounded progressive brand.
LEMAIRE Christophe Lemaire launched his personal label in 1992 before continuing on to successful stints as creative director at Lacoste and chief womenswear designer at Hermès. His namesake line, reinvigorated in collaboration with partner Sarah-Linh Tran, reinterprets utilitarian classics with modern modifications. Composed of fine materials like Japanese denim, Harris tweed, silk, and calfskin, Lemaire’s multifaceted range encompasses ready-to-wear, footwear, accessories, and housewares. Tendered in an understated neutral color palette, Lemaire’s offerings evoke an inimitably Parisian sense of laid-back refinement.
ANDERSSON BELL Finding perfect harmony in opposites, it interprets the principles of Scandanavian design through a uniquely Korean point-of-view: timeless silhouettes and clean lines embrace subtle eclecticism, veering towards a minimalism that is as straightforward as it is elusive. Conceived as a collective of like-minded individuals in 2018, the Seoul-based ready-to-wear label looks inwards as much as it does outwards–drawing inspiration from the local as well as the global to forge a brand reflective of the contemporary moment. Operating outside the confines of gender, race, and cultural background, Andersson Bell offers a neutral selection of garments that embraces difference, individuality, and fluidity.