Designer profile: emilie casiez

Michelle Morton-Banks caught up Parisian uber-suave designer Emilie Casiez after the recently passed Rendez-vous in Paris…

Emilie Casiez is a designer that creates easy to wear items without losing sight of being hopelessly chic. Bored with the fashion surrounding her, she wore her own designs to parties. Parisian scene revelers begged her to make them her designs. In a process of cause and effect, Casiez was encouraged her to create Emilie Casiez a label in its own right. Training at the famous Studio Bercot – founded Parisian art circles of the 40’s, and 50’s – her artistic depth is clearly present in her ability to intersect art into fashion.

Now four years strong – and recently branching into menswear – Emilie is said to be the stylist’s choice of apparel.

MMB: Tell me about your studies at Studio Bercot…

EC: Was it very cool there, and very open minded. Students felt free to express themselves. Marie Seguy also studied there, do you know of her? She makes accessories and also won the ANDAM last year, her work is favoured for being delicate.

Also here I became friends with Lorraine Grandclement, she is a stylist and works with photographer, Christian Lucidi who I work with now. They are very talented and really understand my world.

MMB: Yes I am aware of Seguy, She’s styled for Hint Magazine. Well you’ve just answered another two of my questions; I wanted to know what stylist your working with.

So you’ve just shown your work for Autum/Winter’06 at Rendez-vous. What is the direction of your collection for this season?

EC: This season, a lot of knit and jacquard in technique, it makes for a warm feeling but still feminine – mostly sweaters, pullovers and dresses, in Black, turquoise and shades of grey, gold detailing – small Lurex stars. As usual I keep my three theme; casual chic daytime and a darker and sexier for night. But now I add a more casual printed collection as I’m always trying to make my brand move on.

MMB: Your labels always had that ability. Last time we spoke you were even doing well in Japan…

EC: I’m still working with a very big, trendy shop in Tokyo, which sells well. It’s a kind of Japanese Colette.

MMB: What about the rest of the globe?

EC: You can find my collections in several countries in Europe: Germany, Denmark, and UK… soon I’ll be planning to stock in NY.

MMB: What accessories would you suggest for your
Collection?

EC: Sophisticated gold high heels, especially with my black knit dress, generally not much in the way of accessories because my clothes are full of luxury details. Maybe a small vintage bag.

MMB: So how was Rendez-vous?

EC: I use Rendez vous like a private show room to see my buyers. But as well it’s also a good way to meet new buyers who don’t know my label. And not to forget it’s a lot of fun to be with other fashion designers.

MMB: How did people respond to your collection at the show?

EC: Most people found that my new collection moved on to a higher level – a positive evolution – my designs have matured… but everyone seemed to like the collection.

MMB: But what makes Rendez-vous different to other trade shows?

EC: I choose it above others because they make a small but selective choice of new designers; it’s not a sell out factory. And its set in a beautiful place – not in big, cold white surfaces.

MMB: And of-course it’s in Paris. So did you attend the Surface to Air/Rendez-vous after party? Any debauched stories to tell?

EC: No not this year, the party was cancelled… Instead, I went to a very special party, but I can’t tell you where, I was drinking too Champagne to remember.

MMB: Which designers did you prefer and why?

EC: C Neeon – the girls who won the last Hyères festival, what they create is impressive. I also like Un-demi, by Itoko ato – Japanese brand I discovered at the show, they too have a very chic and feminine look.

MMB: I really wanted to see the presentation by Jens Laugesen – Future Now ‘02 at the passage du desir. Did you see it?

EC: I know this designer, but to be honest, I was so exhausted from the show that I couldn’t make it see his presentation.

MMB: Yes I understand that tradeshows are totally exhausting. But did you manage to muster energy to see any other art installations?

EC: Recently I saw the LA Exposition at Beaubourg – it was fantastic but in a classical way, I have seen the Cezanne / Pissaro Exposition at theMusée d‚Orsay. Cezanne is definitely the greatest painter of the 19th century. That’s the best I can offer in answer to your question!

MMB: Do you think you’ll be doing the cross over from fashion to art? It seems to be quite popular at the moment…

EC: Art is a huge inspiration to me. But then our universe is full of references, but it changes all the time. As I design exclusive drawings and prints, I need to know what is going on in plastic arts, graphics, illustration. I would be fun, one time, to create something special that will join fashion and art, maybe in paintings. And to show it in a art gallery.

MMB: That’s the great thing about the ‘here and now’, we are encouraged to get off on as many mediums as we can and try to mix them as often as possible. I love it too. Thanks Emilie.