Castelbajac was right on target. His Spring/Summer 2009 collection not
only included his trademark ingredients of the carefree, colorful, and
creative, but also the single most talked about garment: a scoop neck
racer tee-shirt dress with an oversize picture of then
president-elect, now President of the United States Barack Obama.
His fashionable fountain of youth has persevered in the continuously
changing climate of fashion and cultural favorites. He deliberately
made the Obama dress a central point in his show because for him, “it
is a result of an imperative need for me to use fashion to speak about
our society and some fundamental things like change, renaissance,
humanity, ecology, and most of all democracy.” He exclaims, “I had to
do this dress!” For Castelbajac it was not a commercial act but more
of a personal signifier. “The design is pop and powerful and the
energy has to be the vehicle of clear optimistic vibes.”
From hijacking materials and cartoon couture in the seventies, to his
gloves and teddy bears in the eighties, he continued his quest to
connect fashion and cultural icons, all the while maintaining a fresh
view. He explains, “Today the way to build style, fashion, design,
and marketing is all relevant to what I speak about.”
In the 1980s his focus broadened to dressing pop icons like Madonna,
co-branding and even music collaborations. One of the youthful and
influential ingredients to his world is music: “All is connected to my
music. Music is my fuel.” He has worked with many of the “it”
musicians, most recently Kanye West, MIA, and Katy Perry. “I love to
design for performers,” he smiles. “We all have had this common
passion with music like my friends Stephen Sprouse and Vivienne
Westwood.” He also just released his first collaborated CD with Rufus
Wainright “Happy Fiu” found on www.myspace.com/marevagalanter.
Despite the current economic conditions, Castelbajac feels optimistic
and new fashion collection reflects his confident outlook. “The
crisis is perfect for me. Buyers need creativity again. The lux
bourgeois is fragelize…viva creativid.” In his Winter 2009 show
titled “Be pop ma Lola,” the clothes are still colorful and carefree.
“Today, my show is more like an art performance. Like a blast of
emotions.”
Now in the works is the launching and development of his secondary
line called JC/DC. In the future, Castelbajac envisions opening a
store like his London flagship in the United States. “I was on the
cover of US Vogue with Farah at 21 years old and American journalists
were the first to love my work,” he proudly states, “Now I am
ready to be an ‘American Boy’ again.”
Castelbajac’s label is currently available at Colette, Seven in New
York and Fred Segal in LA.
One Response
benJAMIN ACree on 02-04-2009 at 9:46 pm
STYLISH
SARAH
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