London Fashion Week: Faustine Steinmetz SS15 Presentation

About us

We reproduce everyday pieces, like the forgotten denim found in your dad’s wardrobe, except that we hand make them from scratch. Not only haute couture dresses deserve hundreds of hours of attention; industrial pieces too can be created using artisanal techniques. It is due to this belief that we hand weave our own fabric in our East London studio and why all our pieces are entirely made in the UK.

Our inspiration

This season we have been inspired by the almighty couture houses and their intrusion into our lives through their countless lines and infinite array of products…

This presentation explores the relation between the product itself and the way in which big houses present it to you. It is all about your perception of the product and how it makes you feel.

Our process

We replicate mass produced garments by using artisanal techniques. Many of the processes used in the craftsmanship of our pieces have existed for thousands of years.

Handmade in the UK, each fabric is worked and finished in our East London studio, with some pieces taking days to complete. As a result all of our pieces are as individual as the people who make them, which is why each piece is labeled with the name of the person who made it. From handwoven and hand-dyed denim to handwoven and hand-embroidered fabrics, each step is completed with great skill and care.

Hand weaving

All of our handwoven fabrics are made using traditional techniques and are powered by the user; no electricity is used. Everything is woven on large wooden countermarch floor looms, which consist of sets of shafts which are raised or lowered independently of each other by pedals. These shafts create a gap in the warp yarns allowing the weaver to pass weft yarns through the opening to make the fabric.

Hand dying

We dye small hanks of yarn one at a time in a large metal vat of natural indigo dye. The ingredients of the dye are mixed with water in the vat first before the yarn is added and moved around gently for about two minutes. The yarn is then allowed to dry in the sun and through the process of oxidation slowly turns from a shade of green to a dark blue. The whole process is repeated five times.

Hand knotting

This season we explored a new artisan technique: hand knotting. It is a traditional Japanese pleating technique that consists of hand knotting the fabric into different shapes before finally steaming it.

Hand made jewellery

This season we collaborated with new upcoming jewellery label Niomo (www.niomo.co.uk) to create a collection of artisanal jewellery inspired by the retail industry.

Hand embroidery

To give our pieces that little bit of extra care and attention we like to embroider them to make them even more special. Hand embroidery involves stitching designs by hand onto the fabric.

Hand painting

We hand painted a large part of the collection this season to give our fabrics the appearance and texture of denim.

About Faustine

Parisian born Faustine Steinmetz began her studies at Atelier Chardon Savard in Paris before moving to London to complete her Masters in the prestigious Central Saint Martins under the guidance of Professor OBE Louise Wilson.

Having worked for the likes of Jeremy Scott and Henrik Vibskov, Faustine set up her label in early 2013 after acquiring her first handloom. All of Faustine’s pieces are made in accordance with her belief in craftsmanship over trend.

Contact

Faustine Steinemtz

info@faustinesteinmetz.com – faustinesteinmetz.com

Mia Press per Woman & Bride