In an age of mass production and rapid technological advancements, where
everything seems to have been mechanized and digitized, there's a growing
longing for a more profound connection to our belongings. This sentiment holds
particularly true in the fashion industry, where the art of creating garments
is increasingly becoming automated. However, some designers, like Drew Curry
from Airei, are challenging this trend. He is embracing the concept that
clothing should be more then just a product; it should tell a story. He found
out that when he put Drew in the design nobody should be able to replicate it,
because he himself couldn´t do it either.
The brand definetely told a story
during Paris Fashionweek as it was at one of the best presentations seen. The venue 3537 in the middle of the Marais, was covered with plaster and four plastered pillars in the middle. Models were walking slowly through the set, some with dust and plaster on their garments and boots, as if they just came out of work. Others were covered with a plaster corset, a plaster facemask, a plaster nose e.g. what made it look Haute Couture but more in in an intimate personal performance. After a couple of minutes the designer himself, Drew Curry, came and started tearing down the plaster aswell as the pillars (see gif) which was such a strong metaphor of all the brand is representing.
From the brand:
Airei's designs are handmade by skilled artisans, each resulting piece a "Airei is a celebration of the human touch, so all of the hand-knit, hand-sewn and hand-stitched pieces create the essence of the brand".
Through our materials, designs and our collaborators, each part of the
collection exemplifies protective and heroic themes:
- Human hair from Matter of Trust , a San-Francisco based nonprofit using human hair to fight oil spill disasters, is incorporated through one-of-a-kind jackets, pants and shirts.
- Dunlop clogs and rubber boots, made for oil rig workers, are customized and feature a durable exterior of rubber pulled from vehicle tires.
- For the first time, Airei introduces leather this season through a collaboration with Churchill, a 130-year-old work glove manufacturer.
- Salmon leather, recycled from waste from sushi restaurants in France, is used to create jackets and pants.
- Asics sneakers have been customized in a coat of plaster, eventually breaking down through movement and usage.
- Protection and fragility are contrasted in the “Rip” shirt and hoodie. The pieces allow the wearer to tear open the front of the shirt to unveil the placket hiding beneath.
- Freehand stitching techniques are implemented in the chainlink jackets, pants and shorts, creating one-of-a-kind patterns
Our absolute toplooks are the deconstructed knitwear pieces, genderless, some in bright colours, others just plain black or white. In combination with the workwear details simple yet beautiful repelled. The white suit (also coming in black and in shorts) with the square stitches, was another outstanding look. An unique yet wearable piece, we would love to see somewhere, anywhere.
A big shoutout to the Asics collaboration, covered up with plaster and presented this way in a more then appropriate venue, it becomes Art.
(Edit and pictures by Brenda)
No comments