Maison Alexis Mabille Haute Couture

 

The new boutique and showroom at 34 Galerie Vivienne. Photo by Wilson McCord

Written by, David Pedroza, Editor in Chief
Photos and Art Direction by, Wilson McCord

A month before the news of being granted official title of Haute couture, by the Chambre Syndicale de la Haute Couture, I visited Alexis Mabille’s new store and showroom, in Paris. I have followed the work of Alexis Mabille, since the launch of his namesake house, back in 2005. He has evolved and retained his own identity since the beginning. Bows, sharp tailoring, uni-sex appeal, and a very French savior faire have all been trademarks in his collections. The launch of Impasse 13, was a mixture of pieces that were couture and pret-a-porter, designed to be worn by men or woman. Not until 2010, did Alexis Mabille start presenting his haute couture pieces on its own, giving it the well-deserved attention and showcasing the craft of his atelier. Since the beginning, the house had no intent on having an haute couture line, but the demands of the clients prove there was a strong desire for made-to-measure clothing with the Alexis Mabille touch.



A Fall 2012 haute couture sequin dress. Background: downstairs fitting room. Photos by Wilson McCord

At 34 Galerie Vivienne, stands the proud, intimate, and private Salon, with a small boutique on the ground floor curated with black and white pret-a-porter pieces. The 2^nd floor, is the private, by appointment only, salon which houses haute couture collections. We are welcomed into the ground level boutique, which was purposely arranged to carry only black and white garments. It offers men and women the key staples to a perfect Alexis Mabille wardrobe.  I browse the selection of beautiful accessories, all in Alexis Mabille’s signature, the bow. Bow clutches, bow ties, earrings, necklaces, and pouches in every fabric and metal mixed into a selection of staples. These accessories easily add character to a soft Alexis Mabille smocking jacket or his signature, little-black-dress. We then meet with the communications director and Directrice of the house, Myrthe Mabille, sister-in-law of Alexis Mabille. She is a tall, thin, beautiful woman with a causal, Parisian flair (Mrythe has modeled in some of Alexis’s  shows) . She is warm and kind, and meets with us at the top floor salon, the new showroom for clients who wish to buy from the haute couture line. The soft lighting of the pink and gold printed walls, made after the walls of the Grande Palais, give a soft warm glow.  The space is small and intimate, like stepping into a private dressing room of an haute couture client.  We came on a transition time, when the haute couture collection for Fall 2013 was traveling to Dubai for a private presentation, then to Singapore for their couture fashion week.  The show room had couture pieces from previous collections, which was a treat for me to see almost every haute couture sampling from the beginning.  A small sampling of his Spring 2012 collection hung on a rack, saturated in beautiful bright and vivid acid colors. Beaded bustiers from previous seasons showed the detailed craftsmanship of the Cecile Henri Atelier, the house that produces superior embroideries for Mabille. Fabric swatches and sketches laid on a round table near the window, a design for a private client, which showed the close relationship Alexis Mabille has with his clients. As it was pointed out to me by Myrthe, the salon is a laboratory for client and designer to also create new concepts for custom orders, as well as to fulfill demi couture orders for a client who may not have such a large budget. Alexis Mabille wants to create a personal and one-of-a-kind experience with his clients, and will meet  with them one on one. Myrthe mentioned “clients always ask: Alexis, Alexis, can he come? And he makes time for each of them”. The salon also offers bridal options, and custom designs for a bride to be.

Left to Right: The many buttons on a Alexis Mabille smoking. Bow necklaces. Gwen Stefani wearing a Alexis Mabille Haute Couture hat from the Spring 2012 collection, on the cover of Harper's Bazaar. Alexis Mabille bow ties in Plisse Velvet. Photos by Wilson McCord

The embroidered and beaded bustiers from the Haute Couture collections. Photo by Wilson McCord.

One of my favorite Alexis Mabille Haute Couture pieces from Spring 2011. Photo by Wilson McCord

At 11 rue de Grenelle, Paris, is the address of the stand-alone, Alexis Mabille flag ship store. Our second stop just to see the first Alexis Mabille (many other locations to follow in other cities worldwide) which houses the ready-to-wear and accessories collections for both men and women.  The store reflects a clean and modern vibe, perfect back drop for the flamboyant and chic clothes that have a fun and casual spirit. The walls are adorned with large mirrors (Alexis collects vintage mirrors) with a color palette of soft pink, and of course, black and white. It is the perfect vision for an Alexis Mabille boutique, modern, yet youthful and playful.  Alexis Mabille has established himself as the darling of Paris, and has set his mark in ready to wear and haute couture. He has won the hearts of a new generation, and a strong following that will carry him on to the future. 



Spring 2012 selection of vivid haute couture samples. Photo by Wilson McCord

 

The façade of the 11 rue de Grenelle Alexis Mabille Flagship store. Photo by Wilson McCord

 



Maison Hurel: The Art of Fabrics

Written by David Pedroza, Editor in Chief

Photos and Art Direction by Wilson McCord

Without its artisans, haute couture will cease to survive.  Since the initial start of haute couture and especially after the Second World War, haute couture has depended on the quality of its sources and the artisans that create the raw materials used in creating these special creations.  Although, these artisans are kept from the spot light, they must be appreciated and celebrated for their respected craft! One house in particular, which I had the privilege to visit, is Hurel.  Maison Hurel was incarnated in 1879 by Edmond Hurel as a embroidery house in Paris, France. Not until the 1940’s did Hurel included fabrics, or tissus,  making the house known for Lace, Tulle, and its Novelty fabrics.   The demand for novelty fabrics has grown among fashion houses, being its biggest service , and reserving embroideries mostly for haute couture.  Maison Hurel has a very impressive clientele list, which includes Grande Maisons of haute couture, such as Chanel and Valentino.  Other major houses include Saint Laurent, J. Mendel,  Jason Wu, Gucci, Tom Ford, Christophe Josse, and Roberto Cavali to name a few. 

In 2007, Maison Hurel was taken over by Benjamine Hurel, Granddaughter of the house’s founder Edmond Hurel. The 5^th generation Hurel family is taking the company to a new direction, to usher the house in to a modern era without losing the integrity of the Metier d’art.  Madame Benjamine Hurel discussed how they are involved with reviving old techniques of fabric making and applying them to new, modern, designs. All Hurel fabrics are entirely made in France, for both ready-to-wear and Haute Couture.  Its embroidery is done at the company’s in-house-atelier, at Hurel’s Paris Head Quarters. Martin Hurel, Director of embroidery, he over sees the direction and development of embroidery designs, and works mostly with haute couture houses to create unique, modern, embroideries, using traditional embroidery techniques. Baptiste de Bermingham, son of Madame Hurel, is director of communications and sales, he is responsible in the distribution of Hurel fabrics, and works with fashion companies worldwide.

In its history, Maison Hurel has managed to create fabrics and embroideries for some stellar creations from some legendary designers.  Valentino’s “Fiesta” dress created in 1959, features red roses, draped in layers of silk tulle over a tulle bustier, all fabrics from Hurel.  This quality of tulle has continued to be produced by Hurel and used by Maison Valentino for their Haute Couture collections.   First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy wore one of the most famous dresses made for her to a dinner at Versailles, an ivory Ziberline gown, designed by Hubert de Givenchy in 1961 and embroidered by hand, in a bouquet of flowers, by Maison Hurel.  Mrs. Kennedy wore the dress to the dinner in France, making a grand entrance in her unforgettable Haute Couture creation.  Most rec ently, Hurel created the scarlet red, bur n out silk velvet fabric, used to create the Jason Wu’s Gown, the first lady wore to President Obama’s Second Inaugural Ball. Their fabric innovations have been revered throughout time, as they continue to grow and discover new materials and reestablish old world techniques.



Left: FirstLady Jacqueline Kennedy Givenchy gown, Cica 1960's. Embroidery by Hurel. Photo by Metropolitan Museum of Art.
Center: Dior Haute Couture Spring 2013. Embroidery from Hurel. Photo by Stylebistro.com.
Right: Jason Wu's dress, worn by First lady, Michelle Obama. Fabric by Hurel. Phot by Stylebistro.com

At our visit to Masion Hurel, we were privileged to see the house in its entirety along with the archives. We also visited the atelier, where the embroideries are made, mostly for haute couture. The in-house artists are responsible for the surface design of all the fabrics, either exclusively designed for one designer, or designed to be sold for broader distributions.  Ninety -five percent of the fabrics developed at Hurel, are mostly used by luxury, ready-to-wear houses, while the rest, and embroideries are reserved especially for the haute couture house. Those fabrics designed for the haute couture, are usually designer for a certain designer, reserve a one of a kind aesthetic, and require more labor to manufacture.  The ready-to-wear fabrics have evolved to use modern, more efficient techniques, to create a larger yield, without reducing quality.  For example, at Hurel, looms that have been reserved for jacquard fabrics, have been used to create, 3 dimensional, textured velvets, in rayon and lurex.  Using the machines in new ways, has allowed Maison Hurel to create very lavished, new, luxury textiles that make fashion new, and inspire s designers to create new ideas. These ideas and concepts do come with the challenge of finding looms, or older looms, and the people that know how to use the equipment. Hurel has been adopting old, antiquated looms, in hopes of using them to re-develop old textiles, or use them to create new textiles. Some of these looms have not been in use since WWII, and require a skilled hand to manipulate and to create certain textiles.  One fabrics is Lace, a product in which Hurel specializes. Other specialized fabrics include; jacquards, velvets, taffeta, organza, tulle, and novelty fabrics. Lace with large repeats and designs have been in demand by designers in recent times, for bolder and richer effects.  Old  lace looms can create larger patterns, or repeats , but there are no artisans left who know how to use the looms or are willing to do the hand work, which pays very little, when much more money can be made doing a simpler job in other industries. When it comes to lace, even in the luxury sector, companies have turned to factories that imitate the hand work that used to be created by specialized artisans, using computer generated machines, and mass production. Lace with a larger pattern usually comes from the Lyon region of France, and has become more desirable for the bold patterns and larger repeats, but are often reserved for haute couture due to the high price to in manufacturing and its limited sources. Some lace patterns from the early 20^th century, could not be re-made, since the technique has been lost over the years, so Hurel has been able to recreate these special laces using a modern embroidery technique, that gives the lace large, rich, 1 meter repeat. These textiles require special care, attention, and skill, which has become spares and hard to achieve.  The lost techniques of the golden age Meiter d’ art, makes it harder to produce these textiles.  Losing touch with the heritage of making haute couture textiles has forced this great House to creatively re-invent itself.  Maison Hurel is actively working on retaining a sense of heritage within its company.

 



Left: Flocked Tulle. Right: Lurex iridescent velvet.




Left: Guipure lace. Center: Sun-ray Pleated velvet, for haute couture.
Right: Raised textured fabric, using modern techniques to produce.




Left: Apstract printed gazar. Top-Right: Hand glued glitter on chiffon for Saint Laurent.
Button-Right: Lurex velvet, embossed to look like lizard skin.

 

Vintage print screens, on display at Hurel's studio.

Hurel Design and Embroidery Ateliers.

Hurel Artist a work with a new textile design

 

Haute Couture Lace, in a large repeat, developed by Maison Hurel.

 

The 3^rd floor atelier is exclusively dedicated to the fine art of embroidery. This studio is respected for the skillful hands, and techniques used in haute couture embellishments and ornamentation.   Usually reserved for the Haute Couture houses, the embroidery atelier at Hurel, is one of the last houses that creates fine embroideries for haute couture. With clients such as Dior Haute Couture, Valentino Couture, Christophe Josse, and Gucci’s made-to-measure line, Premiere, they follow a strict standard of quality, and unique design.  All embroideries are done in house and all designs are either custom designed by the client or done by the Hurel design team.  With an average of 160 hours for each embroidery, this department works mostly with haute couture houses, and produces its creations with the tambour hook. The tambour hook, is an old, traditional, French tool used to attached ornamentation to fabric with thread. Rarely is the hand sewing needle used, except for large beads, crystals, fabric appliqués, or feather work.  Each embroidered design is either done by an in-house artist, or custom designed in collaboration with a designer. Maison Hurel, creates seasonal designs, which are presented to houses, a season prior, after a design has been purchased the design, the embroidery motif is reserved only for that house that has acquired it.  Maison Hurel never reproduces one design from  one house to another, and ensures the uniqueness of its design.  







Quality Controll: Hurel ensures all of their clients receive the finest quality.



 

Maison Hurel is a last of its kind in specializing in an art form that seems to be forgotten and not properly brought into the light. Hurel’s smart approach to retaining heritage and tradition, with keeping in mind the demands of the modern world, has proven that there is still a  passion for creating the essentials goods for quality clothing, and that there are still those who live to create beautiful works of art by hand. It is our duty to support artisans who put their love in soul into what they do the best!





The archives at Maison Hurel, every fabric created by the house.




Hurel's novelty laces, tulles, velvets, and flocked chiffons.

Haute Couture Report: Christophe Josse Spring 2013

Written by David Pedroza, Editor in Chief

The Tunic with Ceramic flowers, Photos by
Stephanie Kaufman.

In the past couple of seasons, Christophe Josse has created a image and a few signatures, that are entirely Josse! Mr. Josse goes from strength to strength each season, continuing his direction as the season before, moving forward with out trend, and creating clothes a woman can wear 20 years from now.  Taking inspiration from Tokyo's intricate streets, and silhouettes of the early 1970's for Spring 2013, Josse created a light and airy collection. The silhouettes where kept simple, feminine, and playful, and adorned in intricate linear intersections of satin, encrusted in Lyon Lace, or painstakingly woven, making this collection fresh, modern, and contemporary. Christophe Josse certainly makes clothes for an intellectual woman, and definitely for a modern woman who would appeal to his hand-blown, glass accessories and shoes that have been made to look like pearl or metal, making each piece light, artistic, and sensual to the touch. Stand out pieces include a simple organdy white tunic with ceramic white floral embellishment, and a white organdy gown with tiers of pleated ruffles. The fine fabrics such as Swiss cotton organdy, hand made Lyon Lace, and the finest leather-like silk satin were used in the making of each creations. These are the kind of  clothes in which one can live their lives in.

 

Haute Couture Report: Alexis Mabille Spring 2013

Writen by David Pedroza, Editor in Chief



The Alexis Mabille Couture Collection. Photo by Stephanie Kaufman

Now an official member of Fédération Française de la Couture, Alexis Mabille devoted his Spring 2013 haute couture collection to “craftsmanship”. This is one of the most important reasons a woman would buy haute couture, to acquire a piece of clothing that is made to perfection in her own measurements.  Mabille’s collection did speak to its audience; a lot of hand-work, and fine fabrics, with his whimsical and delicate aesthetic. The show started with girlish confections, of contemporary separates such as Lyon Lace embroidered tops, satin cigarette pants, and frilly organza skirts. The rest of the “exists” consisted of evening wear one can easily see on the red carpet. Just recently, Zoe Saldana turned out in look 16 from Mabille’s Spring collection, for the Oscars, a grey couture confection in tiers of organza that created an ombre look. Signature Alexis Mabille bows adorned several pieces, with our over powering the looks. Lace encrusted most designs, while strapless bustier gowns remained sexy, yet girlish. The Mabille smoking was paired with gowns or made into long dresses them selves, a staple in every Alexis Mabille collection.  Alexis Mabille haute couture collection was a perfect selection of sweet confections, like  magasin de patisserie, serving the prettiest creations any woman would love to wear and proving he is a true couturier.

 

Theirry Villenave: Couture Milliner for Men

Out side the Theirry Villenave shop. Photo by Wilson McCord, 2012.

 

Written by David Pedroza, Editor in Chief

Forward, Art Direction, and Photographs by Wilson McCord

 

Forward:On numerous occasions during my stay in Paris, in the fall of 2012, I walked home late at night passing the shops, now dark on the rue du roi Sicile. But one small shop in the Marais, whose lights still burned bright, caught my interest.I looked in the window at the beautiful fabrics that gave off an iridescent glow. Their contrasting rich colors made me feel like a child looking in the window of a candy store.Fantastic! At the very back of the store a young designer was busy sewing late into the night. And, the idea that there were still young artisans in the world whose passion for creating beautiful clothes was still alive made me smile every time I passed.Late one evening in November, David Pedroza, Baptiste de Bermingham, director of fabrics at the famed Embroidery House Hurel, and I passed the shop. I told the two creative sleuths we had to stop and visit.It was the first time I would enter world of Theirry Villenave but it will not be my last.

Geometric cap in blue cotton twill. Photo by Wilson McCord, 2012.

 

Beautiful lining, pieced like a puzzle. Photo by Wilson McCord, 2012

 

During my trip in Paris, Wilson McCord introduced me to Thierry Villenave. Thierry is a men’s accessories and shirt designer, with a great boutique in Paris’s 3rd arrondissement, the Marais.The shop is simple with a modern-rustic appearance, and a private ambiance. Thierry Villenave, opened his boutique in 1995, to develop a more creative aesthetic in men’s fashion and to expand his technical know-how in constructing minimal, yet complicated designs.The shop is small and intimate with a very impressive selection of hats, scarves, and dress shirts, all developed and made by Thierry, himself. The Thierry Villenave hat collection is a strong expression of classic silhouettes, in geometric form using nontraditional fabrics.A mixture of men’s wear fabrics, such as wool herringbone, tropical wool suiting fabrics, cotton piques, wool plaids, and linens, were all mixed in with elegant florals, saturated colors, and delicate cotton liberty prints.Knitted caps in faire isle patterns are saturated in bright colors, and created out of soft cotton or merino wool yarns.Thierry explained to us his passion for textiles, and using masculine fabrics, with subtle feminine details, without losing its appeal for men. He works with textile mills in Paris, to create new, exclusive fabric (made in a scarf) of a glen plaid, which has been engineered to alternate and break, to give it an appearance of patchwork, but without the seam work.Thierry Villenave is a true craftsman, with the technical skills and knows how to construct all his work by hand. No detail is ever too small or insignificant, including the linings of his hats, which are pieces in soft, feather weight, cotton voile or twill, in bold colors, or graphic prints. The shirts are another example of great hand work and modern design, which have been made in cotton and satin blends, with linear contrasting lines or piping. Thierry tailors strong wing collars, sometimes with contrasting under collars, and traditional French cuffs with contracting knot closures. Thierry Villenave may not be a house hold name, but he is a true gem in Paris. When it comes to complementing a man’s wardrobe, the excellent craftsmanship and unique vision makes Thierry Villenave the go to man for men’s shirts and accessories.

Selection of hats in color saturated prints. Photo by Wilson McCord, 2012.

Caps in men's suiting fabrics. Photo by Wilson McCord, 2012.

 Theirry Villenave hats are available by order, or at his boutique on 28, rue du roi Sicile, Paris, France. Visit the Theirry Villenave Website.

Maison Christophe Josse

The Christophe Josse Haute Couture showroom. Photo by Wilson McCord, 2012.

Written by, David Pedroza, Editor in Chief
Sit-in-Editor, Art Direction, and Photography by Wilson McCord

Paris, November 26, 2012

We had the privilege of going to Christophe Josse salon, a small house, with a big name, and a very strong international following. Christophe Josse is one, out of the 17 grand couturiers, to have the official title of haute Couture, granted by the Chambre Syndicale de la Haute Couture. This title was bestowed upon Mr. Josse, January 2011, six years  after he opened the house.  Christophe Josse began his career in haute couture as an assistant for Louis Feraud, learning the craft of couture from one of the original grand couturiers. He then moved to Torrente, where he worked under Madame Rose Torrente, founder of the house. In 2003, Christophe Josse was appointed Creative Director of Torrente, where he was head of the prêt-a-porter and haute couture collections. With more than 20 years of experience, and extensive knowledge in haute couture, it was an obvious and suitable move for Mr. Josse to open his own Maison de Couture, in 2005.

Christophe Josse aesthetic is very modern and feminine. He never fights against fabric, and there is always movement in his clothes that feel relaxed, yet sculpted. Mr. Josse uses many references to contemporary architect and develops new techniques with cutting and adornment to create modern structures on the body.  For Spring 2012 the atelier created hand-blown glass bubbles, which where sewn by hand on to the neck lines of tops and dresses,  creating delicate sculptural and modern embellishments, with a romantic touch.  In the Fall 2012 haute couture collection, the designer took inspiration from architect Tadao Ando's concrete Church of the Light in Japan. The strong clean lines of the Church have been transformed into graphic lines on to dresses with sheer seams of silk organza inserts, or high polished satin.  Controlled graphic seams where inverted outwards and topstitched, emphasizing the feminine form. Day wear was strong, with sharp architectural dresses in double faced crepe, and an outstanding tunic in black crocodile.

The caviar-beaded tulle top with a pleated, lacquered full skirt.
Photo by Wilson McCord, 2012.

 

Christophe Josse Haute Couture House is situated at  231 rue Saint-Honoré in Paris, which was officially opened in 2008. The 3rd floor salon is modern and yet romantic, with its plush taupe-grey carpets, deep grey walls, and warm lighting. We were warmly welcomed by the Directrice of Haute Couture, Diane Loury, who is responsible for working with the clients and guiding them through the process of haute couture.  The entire Fall 2012 collection had just been flown to Singapore for the second annual Singapore Haute Couture Fashion week , which received such strong reactions that it increased interests in haute couture. Christophe Josse has a strong following of Asian and Middle eastern clients who demand his polished haute couture creations.  I was fortunate to be taken through some of the Spring 2012 couture pieces and ready to wear from the current Fall collection. An atelier of about a dozen, well qualified seamstresses, created magical pieces that hung beautifully on the racks, as the recent couture collection played in the background. Some stand out personal favorites included a caviar-beaded tulle, bateau neck top with a pleated, lacquered full skirt. The other was a blush pink, plisse organza cocktail dress, on a crinoline base, with degrade of ostrich feathers.  On a rack, in front of the windows, were delicate, soft gowns, saturated in bright colors, deliberately romantic, and modestly adorned so not to lose the integrity of the fabrics used. Madame Loury, assured  us that this was “real haute couture” and the Christophe Josse atelier is highly skilled to create such dresses. With many clients in the same social circles she also makes sure no two clients can ever order the same dress.

Maison Christophe Josse follows strict traditions of haute couture, from workmanship to service, without compromising Mr. Josse’s vision or aesthetics. It was a wonderful feeling to be in a house which is independent, has the creative freedom to blossom, as it has begun to, into a rare flower of Haute Couture. As the number of Couture clients increase, and the number of artisans decrease, it is vital that the support of house, such as Christophe Josse, continue and future couturiers can learn from a contemporary couturier such as Mr. Josse. 

 

All photos are property of Wilson McCord, 2012-2013. Master the Art of Style has the exclusive rights to use these photos. These photos are not intended to be shared or taken with out consent from the photographer, Wilson McCord.

 

JOYEUX NOEL from MASTER the ART of STYLE

The Holiday Windows and Exceptional Boutique Interiors of Paris

David Pedroza, Editor in Cheif

Photographs by Wilson McCord

Swarovski Christmas Tree at Galeries Lafayette

The City of Lights, captured in the window's of Bon Marche

Moving Clock at Bon Marche

The clock in motion at Bon Marche. 

Alexandre Vauthier for Pyrenex

Sonia Rykiel's store window 

Dior at Printemps

Dior's Skating Dolls Window at Printemps

Dior's Dolls in Dior Couture for Printemps

Hermes Flagship store

Spanish couturier, Renaldo Alvarez's Store

Chanel Window on Rue Cambon