Desigual teams up with Alphonse Maitrepierre for new collection

By

Rocío ALONSO LOPEZ

Translated by
Roberta HERRERA

Published
Oct 4, 2022

Desigual is adding a new name to its list of collaborators. The Barcelona-based brand has invited the young French designer Alphonse Maitrepierre to browse through its archives, in order to create a new line that fuses haute couture and digital art.

With the dialogue between creature and creator as a starting point, the designer took inspiration from insects such as praying mantises to create contrasting and colorful prints that combine technology and nature. Using materials such as cotton, damask or acid-washed denim, the line features a color palette ranging from black and white to more floral tones such as orange and fuchsia.

"My goal was to create a print that, from a distance, looks like a classic floral print; but up close, turns into something strange and disconcerting," said Maitrepierre. "By working on the design digitally and in 3D, we achieved the illusion of real insects on the fabric."

Presented during Paris Fashion Week, the Desigual X Maitrepierre collection, classified as 100% sustainable, is now available on the brand's online shop and in select stores. With prices ranging from 69.95 euros for a long-sleeved T-shirt to 199 euros for wide-leg jeans, the line also includes garments such as bomber jackets, dresses or jacquard vests. Accessories are also available, such as leather bags in white, black or yellow for up to 249 euros, platform ballerinas for 199 euros or a black felt hat for 49.95 euros.

A graduate of the La Cambre art school in Brussels, Maitrepierre has worked throughout his career with renowned names such as Jean Paul Gaultier, Chanel and Acne Studios. In 2018, he founded his own sustainable label, Maitrepierre, which specializes in artistically inspired ready-to-wear with hints of haute couture. A regular at Paris Fashion Week, he presented his spring/summer 2023 collection just a week ago, which was inspired by the fairy tale Donkeyskin.

Founded in 1984 by Thomas Meyer, Desigual is no stranger to collaborations. The brand recently launched a campaign starring Argentine singer Nathy Peluso and teamed up with Johnson Hartig, founder of Libertine, to create a capsule collection. Present in 109 countries with a retail network of 393 mono-brand stores, the Barcelona-based firm increased its turnover by 3.4% in its 2021 financial year to 371 million euros.