FASHION /
MEN
January 28, 2015
MONSIEUR LACENAIRE | Garance Broca on the New Collection
MONSIEUR LACENAIRE
2013-14 Autumn/Winter Collection "For the never ending weekend."
Designer Garance Broca Discusses the Latest Collection
OPENERS has frequently featured MONSIEUR LACENAIRE, the Parisian menswear brand, as a notable knitwear label. For the preview of their 2013-14 Autumn/Winter collection, they presented an installation at their Paris press office, inspired by the season's theme, "For the never ending weekend," and imagining a "fictional hunt." This installation was then brought to Japan. We spoke with designer Garance Broca, who visited Japan for this occasion, and Benoist Husson, the brand manager responsible for the image visuals and project direction.
Text by KAJII Makoto (OPENERS)Photographs by Benoist Husson
Menswear Designers Are Also Explorers
MONSIEUR LACENAIRE, founded by Garance Broca, who previously handled men's knitwear for Balmain and Hermès, offers knitwear imbued with a witty Parisian spirit. This is Broca's third visit to Japan.
──Where did the inspiration for this season's theme, "For the never ending weekend," come from?
Garance BrocaIt's because we prefer weekends to weekdays! But more importantly, we envisioned this collection as a "wonderful time spent in a fictional countryside." A place you wouldn't want to leave, like in the world of Peter Pan. However, MONSIEUR LACENAIRE is a sophisticated, urban brand. That's why our countryside is a fictional world meticulously crafted from "origami."
2013-14 Autumn/Winter Collection
──What are the key items, colors, materials, and styling that symbolize this theme?
Garance BrocaFor the 2013-14 Autumn/Winter collection, we used autumnal colors such as mustard, fox (referring to the color of fox fur, but also sometimes to the color of sun-tanned paper), and loden (a deep dark green).
In knitwear, we designed animals like "origami" using intarsia knitting. All knits are made with meringue yarn to achieve richer color expressions. All shirts are crafted from Japanese materials. Additionally, the brand's signature jackets are available in new colors. For pants, we created long johns (skinny fit) in British corduroy, which are a very important piece in this collection.
The styling is strongly inspired by contemporary Japanese aesthetics. For example, coordinating a formal shirt with casual long johns and a rustic hunting jacket... I enjoy mixing different inspirations within the same silhouette.
MONSIEUR LACENAIRE
2013-14 Autumn/Winter Collection "For the never ending weekend."
Benoist Husson on the Appeal of Garance Broca
Weaving Stories Through Design
──Please tell us about the joys and challenges of creating men's knitwear.
Garance BrocaWhen I started the brand two years ago, I noticed there weren't many options for men seeking high-quality, playful clothing.──Especially concerning knitwear. So, I challenged myself to create new patterns, new designs, or new jacquard weaves each season to keep men engaged. Even though it was difficult and challenging, it was also very enjoyable. Because menswear designers are also explorers.
──What did you want to convey with this "installation"?
Garance BrocaThe reason for creating the installation was to visually communicate my work. Delicate and precise like "origami," playful like a slingshot, and with the strong masculinity of shooting.
2013-14 Autumn/Winter Collection
──Now, Mr. Husson, could you tell us about your impression of designer Garance Broca and the appeal of her work?
Benoist HussonAs a menswear designer, she deeply understands what men desire, to the point where you might think she was a boy for a while. High-quality fabrics, humor, delicate details, and silhouettes that blend boyishness with masculinity.
She loves telling stories through her designs. And for me, translating those stories into visual materials is an incredibly enjoyable task.
From the beginning, she aimed to create a strong and unique brand identity. She never acts aloof; instead, she focuses on imbuing materials with meaning, much like the clothes she creates.
MONSIEUR LACENAIRE
http://www.monsieurlacenaire.com
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