Faustine Steinmetz spring/summer 2018 collection catwalk show for LFW

Parisian designer Faustine Steinmetz has reimagined wardrobe universal items, such as the trench coat, jeans and sweatpants for her SS18 line. She’s reproduced these classic items using different finishes and fabrications and crafted all the pieces according to her belief of craftsmanship over trend – whereby normal staple pieces can be reimagined and go beyond their usual textile components and traditional recognisable form.

The artisan pieces most significantly shredded knitted tops, show Steinmetz’s weaving skills which originate from her purchase of a loom and the use of YouTube tutorials to help her learn the techniques needed. As the most commercial of her lines so far, Faustine has shed the conceptual sets from her previous seasons instead allowing the focus to be on the comprehensive capsule wardrobe inspired pieces.

Her modern re-imagination of an item we all have, denim jeans, comes in the form of an almost lace like appearance, but is actually crafted from fibres from numerous pairs of jeans which have been reworked and printed upon, meaning the piece itself is made from past forms. This was particularly effective for an almost grey-wash denim jacket and jean combination, where the almost translucent form allowed the exposing of skin, connoting the ripped jean trend that’s prevalent on the high street today.

Her work of taking already existing pieces and remaking them acts as a more sophisticated method of “up-cycling”. The line entitled “facsimile” meaning exact copy, showed the classic form of items like a Burberry beige trench before showing deconstructed imaginings complete with artist palette inspired layered paint versions, large tears and even shredded copies. Shreds, large rips and layered paint denim inspired pieces contrasting with sport inspired name panelling on lace like cream trousers and collared casual jackets.

Negligee inspired dresses, as well as new forms of the white shirt, jeans and heels ensemble completed the line from the Central Saint Martin’s graduate, providing inspiration for the fashion crowds on new ways of wearing key pieces we find in our own wardrobes, turning them from humble and favoured, to fashion forward.

Chloe Davies
Photos: Kimberley Archer