You might say that Opening Ceremony feels a bit like a proud parent at the moment. Four of our fave up-and-coming designers—whose collections we’ve carried since their early days—are finalists for the LVMH Prize. Jacquemus, Faustine Steinmetz, Craig Green, and Marques’Almeida are presenting their final collections before the winner is announced on May 22, and we’re catching up with them in the meantime.
Last year, we took a tour of Faustine Steinmetz’s London studio and learned more about the intricate, month-long process behind each one of her handmade denim pieces. Make sure to check out the video below the interview, where Faustine takes us through every delicious detail.
Shop all Faustine Steinmetz here
The first time I heard the name Faustine Steinmetz, it brought to mind mythical stories from Faustus to Faunus. And sure enough, the designer is doing something genuinely magical. A Central Saint Martins talent from the same class as Marques'Almeida, the French-born, London-based designer is taking denim to an incredible new level.
I met with Faustine at her East London studio, where I witnessed the exhaustive and intricate process that goes into weaving the fabrics that eventually become collection pieces. While we sat amongst the noisy looms, Faustine showed me a single pair of jeans that had taken a month to make, with four people cross-stitching over the entire denim garment. We talked at length about her fascinating process (depicted in detail in the gorgeous video below) and her secret weapon to surviving non-stop weaving.
ELOISE MORAN: How did the brand come to life?
FAUSTINE STEINMETZ: I thought about the kind of clothes that I wanted to do. I started with a pair of jeans. I didn't want to make dresses; I wanted to do something that everyone looks good in.
You do a lot of tapestry work. What gave you the idea of incorporating tapestry into denim?
I wanted to do something that doesn't really exist. Why does a dress deserve all the attention [more than] everyday pieces? If I had a lot of money, I'd really like to buy myself nice pieces that I could wear every day. I wouldn't want to spend my money on something I can wear only once. This is not how I feel a woman wants to dress today.
Was denim something you were always interested in?
Denim is such an important part of the wardrobe. You can say so many things with it, and I just never get bored. I love reworked denim; I've been reworking denim for five years now. At Saint Martins, I was shredding denim [and] putting it on organza. Now, I've started weaving denim. I never get bored of reproducing the same thing. I admire brands like Pleats Please by Issey Miyake; I love it and I collect pieces from it.
Each individual piece is completely handmade in your studio. What is the process of making each piece?
I start with just a white piece of cotton. The whole collection of Spring/Summer 2014 is just made from this cotton—it just really started from nothing! For that weave, I first dye the yarn and then shred it.
Were your skills self-taught?
Yes, definitely. Everything is self-taught, mainly from YouTube videos! Every time w
Last year, we took a tour of Faustine Steinmetz’s London studio and learned more about the intricate, month-long process behind each one of her handmade denim pieces. Make sure to check out the video below the interview, where Faustine takes us through every delicious detail.
Shop all Faustine Steinmetz here
The first time I heard the name Faustine Steinmetz, it brought to mind mythical stories from Faustus to Faunus. And sure enough, the designer is doing something genuinely magical. A Central Saint Martins talent from the same class as Marques'Almeida, the French-born, London-based designer is taking denim to an incredible new level.
I met with Faustine at her East London studio, where I witnessed the exhaustive and intricate process that goes into weaving the fabrics that eventually become collection pieces. While we sat amongst the noisy looms, Faustine showed me a single pair of jeans that had taken a month to make, with four people cross-stitching over the entire denim garment. We talked at length about her fascinating process (depicted in detail in the gorgeous video below) and her secret weapon to surviving non-stop weaving.
ELOISE MORAN: How did the brand come to life?
FAUSTINE STEINMETZ: I thought about the kind of clothes that I wanted to do. I started with a pair of jeans. I didn't want to make dresses; I wanted to do something that everyone looks good in.
You do a lot of tapestry work. What gave you the idea of incorporating tapestry into denim?
I wanted to do something that doesn't really exist. Why does a dress deserve all the attention [more than] everyday pieces? If I had a lot of money, I'd really like to buy myself nice pieces that I could wear every day. I wouldn't want to spend my money on something I can wear only once. This is not how I feel a woman wants to dress today.
Was denim something you were always interested in?
Denim is such an important part of the wardrobe. You can say so many things with it, and I just never get bored. I love reworked denim; I've been reworking denim for five years now. At Saint Martins, I was shredding denim [and] putting it on organza. Now, I've started weaving denim. I never get bored of reproducing the same thing. I admire brands like Pleats Please by Issey Miyake; I love it and I collect pieces from it.
Each individual piece is completely handmade in your studio. What is the process of making each piece?
I start with just a white piece of cotton. The whole collection of Spring/Summer 2014 is just made from this cotton—it just really started from nothing! For that weave, I first dye the yarn and then shred it.
Were your skills self-taught?
Yes, definitely. Everything is self-taught, mainly from YouTube videos! Every time w