Aurélien Arbet and Jérémie Egry can kind of do everything. As well as designing the clothes for their super cool French clothing label Hixsept, they handle all of the brand's creative direction, are working on a documentary about American artist Alec Soth, and are putting together an art exhibition for next year. They're also really good friends. Bleurgh. How is this all possible? See what they have to say below. Also, check out the duo's fall collection, "Etudes", in their self-designed lookbook, shot in Brooklyn—it's full of clever details, quirky prints, and unique collaborations with classic French brands Paraboot and Armor Lux.
Shop all Hixsept here.
Alice Newell-Hanson: Aurélien, what's the best thing about working with Jérémie?
Aurélien Arbet: We know each other so well there's no need to ask questions. And at the same time, we're always throwing around new ideas and creative directions.
ANH: Jérémie, what's the best thing about working with Aurélien?
Jérémie Egry: We've worked together for so long, so I feel like we grew up together artistically. Working as a duo is really interesting like that—we never stop talking and exchanging our ideas about art, life, and our experiences. Our personalities are different but they complement each other.
ANH: What are some of your favorite artistic double acts?
AA & JE: Peter Fischli and David Weiss, and Bernd and Hilla Becher.
ANH: Tell us about this season's lookbook. Who designed it? And where was it shot?
AA & JE: As with all our lookbooks, we did the art direction and design ourselves, but we worked closely with Jeremy Liebman on the photography (he also shoots for the OC blog). The set was our friend's studio in Brooklyn—the collection was created around notions of research, exploration, and experimentation, that's why we wanted that "work in progress/studio" feeling.
ANH: What other design projects are you working on now?
AA & JE: We're doing the art direction and graphic design for the DVD of Somewhere To Disappear, a movie about the American photographer Alec Soth. We're also working on the next Sebastian magazine, as well as preparing some art for an exhibition in 2012.
ANH: How did your other interests lead you to designing clothes?
AA & JE: We think about clothes as an interesting way to experiment—they're another medium, like photography or books. Designing keeps us doing something new and different all the time.
ANH: This season's collection is called "Etudes". Why?
AA & JE: It's a really important word for us. It means research and experimentation, to lose oneself, to forget, to come back, to pause... that's how we built the collection.
ANH: Surprising details have become one of your trademarks. What are some of your favorites from FW11?
AA & JE: We love the Liberty prints! There are a lot of great fabric mixes—all made in France or the UK—and as usual we've done the two-color wa
Shop all Hixsept here.
Alice Newell-Hanson: Aurélien, what's the best thing about working with Jérémie?
Aurélien Arbet: We know each other so well there's no need to ask questions. And at the same time, we're always throwing around new ideas and creative directions.
ANH: Jérémie, what's the best thing about working with Aurélien?
Jérémie Egry: We've worked together for so long, so I feel like we grew up together artistically. Working as a duo is really interesting like that—we never stop talking and exchanging our ideas about art, life, and our experiences. Our personalities are different but they complement each other.
ANH: What are some of your favorite artistic double acts?
AA & JE: Peter Fischli and David Weiss, and Bernd and Hilla Becher.
ANH: Tell us about this season's lookbook. Who designed it? And where was it shot?
AA & JE: As with all our lookbooks, we did the art direction and design ourselves, but we worked closely with Jeremy Liebman on the photography (he also shoots for the OC blog). The set was our friend's studio in Brooklyn—the collection was created around notions of research, exploration, and experimentation, that's why we wanted that "work in progress/studio" feeling.
ANH: What other design projects are you working on now?
AA & JE: We're doing the art direction and graphic design for the DVD of Somewhere To Disappear, a movie about the American photographer Alec Soth. We're also working on the next Sebastian magazine, as well as preparing some art for an exhibition in 2012.
ANH: How did your other interests lead you to designing clothes?
AA & JE: We think about clothes as an interesting way to experiment—they're another medium, like photography or books. Designing keeps us doing something new and different all the time.
ANH: This season's collection is called "Etudes". Why?
AA & JE: It's a really important word for us. It means research and experimentation, to lose oneself, to forget, to come back, to pause... that's how we built the collection.
ANH: Surprising details have become one of your trademarks. What are some of your favorites from FW11?
AA & JE: We love the Liberty prints! There are a lot of great fabric mixes—all made in France or the UK—and as usual we've done the two-color wa