Michel Berandi: Fashion Meets Technology
Michel Berandi installation at Downtown LA Fashion Week, photos courtesy of Jack Fleming/LookbookLA.com
Fashion, art and technology. It's an ongoing theme in the world of fashion and for Michel Berandi the concept was central to creating his Spring 2010 collection. The French designer, who is based in Los Angeles, said he tried to think more about art and less about fashion when designing his collection. Berandi presented a conceptual mannequin installation on Oct. 13 during Downtown LA Fashion Week at The Geffen Contemporary at MOCA. And although Berandi only showed one outfit, the one look held more innovation than some collections. Berandi not only designed the clothing, but also the mannequin that was part organic creature and part high-tech sci-fi character.
It's an emerging theme in fashion as depicted by Alexander McQueen's recent runway show in Paris, which combined an apocalyptic Atlantis theme with high-tech video presentation. The world is being transformed by technology, so it's not surprising that fashion designers including Berandi are finding inspiration in the subject. "I think it's in the air," said Berandi. "The mix of SM, the beauty from the past - from antiquity, and the future with digital technology and prints. That's the future - the mix of those three elements," he explained.
The alien-esque mannequin which Berandi created illustrated the concept. It started with an organic base made from wood and moving upward added organic human and animal parts - such as impala horn for the shoes and leather for the jacket - slowly becoming more high-tech up to the futuristic helmet that topped the mannequin. Each part was orchestrated with top notch skill and materials. Berandi collaborated with McQueen's hair stylist to create the cocoon-like hair and fishnets hand-woven from human hair and elastic which took two months to make. The black helmet was made in collaboration with BMW.
As part of his futuristic vision Berandi said he intends to create an androgynous collection by merging his men's and women's collections into one. While Berandi only presented the one look at MOCA, his full men's Spring 2010 collection can be viewed on his website at michelberandi.com.
Michel Berandi and his high-tech designs.
