Courregès Bids Adieu to Plastics in Its Collections with a Last Call Capsule Collection

Mark Holgate
Updated

Courregès Fin du Plastique

<cite class="credit">Photo: Daniel Besikian / Courtesy of Courrèges</cite>
Photo: Daniel Besikian / Courtesy of Courrèges
<cite class="credit">Photo: Daniel Besikian / Courtesy of Courrèges</cite>
Photo: Daniel Besikian / Courtesy of Courrèges
<cite class="credit">Photo: Daniel Besikian / Courtesy of Courrèges</cite>
Photo: Daniel Besikian / Courtesy of Courrèges
<cite class="credit">Photo: Collier Schorr / Courtesy of Courrèges</cite>
Photo: Collier Schorr / Courtesy of Courrèges

Among all the shaking up that new Courregès artistic director Yolanda Zobel is doing at the iconic French house, one thing might be deemed unthinkable to some: Call time on its use of that groovy space-age vinyl that slicked up everything from its classic boxy jackets, mini skirts, and flat go-go boots. But, let’s be honest, Zobel might have a point, because her objection is about its sustainability, or lack thereof, not its aesthetic qualities, of which she is still very much enamored. “I have millions of meters of this amazing vinyl, and as its the iconic fabric of the house, I cannot dismiss it—it’s inspiring,” she says. “I love the vinyl, its shine, but you can’t say hi to the new without bye to the old.”

So here’s what Zobel has done: Launching Wednesday at a tiny popup next door to the house’s Rue Francois 1er boutique is a capsule called Fin de Plastique. It’ll be a mix of the existing Fall 2018 pieces, as well as some pieces she revived from the archive, such as a small drawstring bag, sculptural collar and bow hairband, and all in that glossy synthetica. Every piece will be stamped with a number that indicates, in decreasing number, the reduction of the stockpile of vinyl which the house currently holds. (There will also be a few new sporty basics—hooded cagoules, track pants—as well as the house’s classic skinny rib knits all with a colorful plastic bag print lettered with Fin or The Future is Behind You.)

The stamping on the vinyl looks pretty cool, a utilitarian flourish, but it also conveys an important message, calling time on materials and practices in fashion which are harmful and wasteful. And typical of the proactive, responsible way Zobel thinks, if you’re going to make change, look to yourself first. “There’s no better world coming, no future, if we don’t take actions today,” Zobel says, who is committed to sourcing a sustainable and recycled version of the vinyl. “We are all responsible of doing that. I do that in in my office, in my daily life, and also with my work.”

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