DESIGNER SPOTLIGHT - CLARISSE HIERAIX

Introducing couture’s new star: Clarisse Hieraix. Along with brands like Madame Grès, Carven designer launched her own collection after graduating from the Chambre Syndicale de la Haute Couture in Paris, in 1999. Today Clarisse Hieraix designs and manufactures, under her own brand, couture, cocktail and wedding dresses in her atelier in Paris and sells to private clients and multi-brand stores in New York, Los Angeles, London, Milan, Moscow, St Petersburg, Almaty, Baku, Dubaï, Arabie Saoudite, Kowait, Katar...
Clarisse Hieraix woman asserts the elegant femininity and has the audacity to refuse fashion diktats. Each collection has a unique style. They give a new characteristic to this rebellious woman who metamorphoses to better reinvent herself.
After several fashion shows in Paris during the Haute Couture Fashion Week and extensive coverage of her creations in the fashion press (Vogue, L’officel, Elle, Harper bazar, CitizenK...), and has dressed celebrities such as Beyonce, Rihanna, Lady Gaga, Doutzen Kroes, Georgia May Jagger, Nicky Minaj.
I visited Clarisse in her studio in Paris during Paris fashion week to learn more about her design and behind the scenes process.

Giulia: What sparked your interest in fashion ? 

Clarisse: Creative madness, being able to "Dream" and transcribe it through the collections. Isn't it magical to have the chance to make your dream come true ?

 Giulia: Can you describe your creative process ?

Clarisse: My creative process revolves around the stories I tell myself through a man's gaze on a woman. This man is the Man in the absolute, who is about to be seduced.....  In each story I revisit period costumes and crinolines...  The theme, the common thread of each collection, is the DNA of my creative process. I draw my collections three years in advance, I then separate them by season and work around my four codes: wide hips, vertugadins, pleats and volumes on a controlled scale. Subsequently, I refine the details according to the theme with materials and textile embellishments. In the end, I draw more for the made-to-measure (couture dresses, wedding dresses and cocktail dresses).

 Giulia: What kind of women does your clothing speak to ? 

Clarisse: Over time I have realized that there are similarities between all my clients whether they are 25 or 65: they are women who know exactly what they want, and where they are going.  They are feminine, bold, passionate, determined, anti-conventional, with a strong identity and a touch of malice. They are my heroines....  

 
Giulia: What other designers do you relate to or love ?

Clarisse: My favorite designer is Claude Montana for his subtlety, sobriety and the architecture of his creations, and secondly Alexander McQueen for his creative genius.  

Giulia: You dressed a few celebrities, Is there one you are particularly proud of ? 

Clarisse: I am extremely flattered and honoured that these celebrities have entered my world and am so proud to have been fortunate enough to be able to dress all of them.

Giulia: If you could pick a celebrity to wear your upcoming collection who would it be ?

Clarisse: Eva Green for her dark side or Madonna for her outrageousness.  

 Giulia: What are you fascinated by at the moment and how does it feed into your work ? 

Clarisse: I am fascinated by everything but my favorite subjects are Art, Nature and Heroines. This trinity constantly enriches my creativity and allows me to dream. 

Giulia: Where can we order your pieces from today ? 

Clarisse: You can order my pieces through my Salon Couture in Paris. I make tailor-made pieces for an international clientele of Couture, Semi-Couture, Cocktail and Wedding Dresses that are all made in my atelier in Paris. I am currently working on my e-boutique where I will present a capsule of my new ready-to-wear fashion collection.  

Giulia: What is next for Clarisse Hieraix ?

Clarisse: The international expansion of the brand through the opening of two Couture Salons in London and New York. 

by Giulia Juliet Belkin

THIS MONTH DESIGNER SPOTLIGHT

Each month we take a moment to introduce you to an upcoming or already successful talent.

Here is a quick review of the best collections to look out for.  Get to know this diverse array of brands before they’re all massive.

Gućas Morgan

From London, UK Gućas Morgan is a design partnership between Will Morgan and Elena Gucas, and the design duo met while studying Bespoke Tailoring at London College of Fashion. Having cut their teeth at the likes of Thom Browne and Eckhaus Latta respectively, this young brand manages to perfect conceptual tailoring with a distinctly artistic approach.

Perfect patch-working is perfect, carefully calculated color palette and meticulous hand worked treatment that sets this brand apart from the sea of young graduates out there right now.

Keine Liebe

This Berlin-based streetwear reference rife in the German collection. The recently re-ignited label’s latest drop translates the city’s anarchist past into a punk-tinged drop of casual staples.All of the logo-emblazoned threads in different graphic iterations are sublime.

NAMACHEKO

it is rare for a menswear label to experience a meteoric rise in its first few seasons. Swedish/Kurdish menswear label Namacheko is one of the lucky few; just over a year after launch, the minimalist label is stocked by 38 retailers worldwide, including Dover Street Market, Ssense and Opening Ceremony.

If your label wants to be considered for future posts then, by all means, get in touch. Meanwhile, for more amazing highlighted talent, check out the rest of our Designer Highlight series.

DESIGNER HIGHLIGHT: JI OH NEW YORK

JI OH is an International Fashion Designer who was born in South Korea. Ji attended Central Saint Martins in London and moved to New York City in 2005 where she attended Parsons Design School. While continuing to rise in the New York fashion market, she launched her namesake brand JI OH in 2014. Ji has won sponsorship from the Korea Fashion association, and is a current awardee of the CFDA incubator program. We fell in love with Ji's designs the minute we discovered it and here is what else she shared with JOLIEGAZETTE.

What made you go into fashion industry?
I’ve always been into visual arts and thought the medium should be clothing. Then I went to fashion school.

How does it feel to be finalist in the CFDA / VOGUE Fashion Fund?
It’s amazing to be noticed by industry leaders, and I feel lucky to be able to have the chance. I’m humbled.

What is unique about Ji Oh designs?
The provocative elements in basic silhouettes. It’s about attitude and juxtaposition.

What inspires you?
How people present and carry themselves – New York is a melting pot so it’s great to see everyone on the streets.

Describe the girl who wears Ji Oh?
Girls who own their attitude and individuality.

What other designers do you relate to, love?
I love the casualness and minimal designs of Haider Ackermann, Martin Margiela and the brand Each Other.

Which celebrity would you want to see wearing your designs?
Rooney Mara and Léa Seydoux. I love their attitude and personas.

What is next for Ji Oh?
I recently launched e-commerce and am doing my best for CVFF so I won’t regret anything. Then I just need to make sure I survive while everything changes. Can’t wait to see more girls on the streets wearing my collection!

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