Steve Bassez: An Ode to French Craftsmanship
Infusing French Luxury with floristic elements, renowned artist and designer Steven Bassez brings upon an innovative touch to his newest collection, encouraging others to “stay curious, be open to learning new techniques and embrace fashion discoveries.” His latest couture collection highlights the diverse skillsets of artisans like milliners, feather workers and tailors. The various talents of these artists unite to form Bassez’s artistic vision.
Steven Bassez has established himself as a prominent name in the French fashion industry. Having begun his fashion career in 2011, Bassez is known for his collaborations with brands such as Lanvin, Yves Saint Laurent, Louis Vuitton, Givenchy, and Chanel. The idea of starting his own brand soon came after his initial collaborations, fueled by a “desire to materialize my passion for drawing and all the knowledge and experience acquired in fashion.” Bassez was fascinated by traditional methods of brand design and wanted to create his own following the notion that “great design is conceived under the pen movement of a brand designer.”
His latest collection is an exemplification of French luxury and craftsmanship. Inspired by the emblematic painting “Spring” by Botticelli, as well as his childhood memories of French flora, Bassez discloses that flowers are at the heart of his collection, emphasizing that “nature lives in harmony: everything has its place and entire life is not enough to understand and discover everything.”
Bassez believes that fashion exemplifies the action of bringing art to life in the form of couture. Taking a more traditional route, Bassez explains that “I have a very strong connection to the physical process of developing an idea from a paper sketch phase to the stage of a ready-to-wear garment. For this to happen a designer needs to understand each fabric, each color, each pattern. They must make the best technical and artistic decisions to create exquisite fashion pieces that look great on the outside, on the inside, and in the smallest details.”
Rather than using modern techniques, Bassez feels that classic craftsmanship should be practiced and appreciated by all, a point which he hopes to emphasize with his newest collection. As the fashion industry keeps evolving, Steven Bassez hopes to promote French knowledge through his self-made brand, as he remains dedicated to celebrating the diverse talents of classic craftsmen.
Photographer: Christina V Henningstad @christina_henningstad