Today we introduce The Tied Shoulder Dress by Marc Le Bihan.
Let us start with this assumption: most of the products labelled as sustainable are not so. If you want sustainable garments, you should buy only quality items from small independent designers. Of course, these pieces are more expensive than disposable stuff. But a few quality clothes for a capsule wardrobe made to last are the only possible sustainable choice. The other option is buying vintage or nothing at all.
Indeed, Marc Le Bihan doesn’t talk about sustainability – zero focus on marketing or advertising. But it is implied in his work, which is what counts: unique creativity, good design and beautiful fabrics. He delivers timeless, special garments you will wear for a lifetime. And production is artisanal and limited.
Discover The Tied Shoulder Dress
About the design It is an I-line long-sleeved maxi dress with exposed stitchings. A side-tied shoulder details a unique neckline. Close-to-body design, but not too tight, makes it comfortable to wear.
The Tied Shoulder Dress by Marc Le Bihan
About the material The fabric is a wool blend jersey with a very soft hand. Indeed, it is comfortable and pleasant on your skin. 29% wool, 65% viscose, 6% elasthane
About the colour Aubergine: a rich purple hue that enhances an understated luxury image. Also, you can match it with many other colours, from neutral tones to dark ones.
Laundry Dry clean.
Style tips The Tied Shoulder Dress shapes a flattering silhouette. It needs a slip dress underneath. However, wear it day to night by simply changing the shoes. You can combine it with Meagratia oversized blazer or the knit vest. It looks great!
We ship everywhere!
We are based in Milano, but we ship our niche fashion selection #formodernhumans everywhere.
Drop us an email or WhatsApp for any further information. Also, you can book your private shopping experience – physical or via video call. We’d love to help!
The work of Marc Le Bihan represents a meaningful business model. And so, before showing you his gorgeous clothes, we wanted to share again the conversation we had with him. Because it is not about standardised fashion. So, please, take time to know more, to understand the quality and the value offered.
Marc Le Bihan is a fashion designer, artist, and craftsman who creates clothes like a second skin. Indeed, his work goes beyond any classification. His conceptual creativity – manifested through impeccable tailoring, is the expression of a cultured and timeless approach to fashion that refuses trends and their transience.
Completely disconnected from commercial fashion constraints, his couture is a rare example of consistency.
Marc Le Bihan – The interview
• What does it mean to be consistent? Keeping up with your vision when the rest of the world goes in a different direction? Marc Le Bihan: “The other direction is not my world. I do not understand it. To me, it’s a problem of society. I don’t understand the way of being, the lifestyle. That world is not me, and I can’t even think about it. Usually, I don’t watch TV. Yesterday I watched Italian TV, and I wondered, how is it possible? Women pretend to be free, showing exaggerated lips and boobs. But in that, I only see the reflection of a man’s vision. That is not freedom. It’s the fake image of a woman.”
• The state of fashion now. How do you see it? Marc Le Bihan: “The problem with fashion is that people only see the lights, the famous people. There is no sensibility to go further. Branded products are not luxury, not anymore. Luxury is rare, and it’s not for all. To me, it’s not about fashion but more about doing clothes my way. The two roads can cross each other but not as direction to follow.”
• What do you think about social media communication? Marc Le Bihan: “Famous people promote everything. They get paid to sell, it’s all about money. And not only for fashion. Maybe they promote a food they didn’t even taste. We live in the culture of image, not real life. People don’t live the moment, take pictures. And everything is ego-centred. People have lost the meaning of quality and quality of life. That is why I follow my path. And so, our communication is not to do any communication. Everything is too confused, there’s too much of it. We don’t have time for social media, we are busy making clothes. However, it’s not about posting a thousand things. Sometimes we post. Enough.”
The cultural issue
• It’s a matter of culture and education? Marc Le Bihan: “Always. The first problem is education, for everything. The idea of accessing through culture and education to something higher – is dead. And I am concerned about young kids. Now they are totally immersed in this image game.”
Sustainability vs Marketing
• What do you think about sustainability? Marc Le Bihan: “Well, I did it 20 years ago! We were recycling and upcycling uniforms and parachutes. I don’t want to be a part of that circle because everybody is doing it. It’s marketing. To me, it’s more about how we consume and live. Of course, I use sustainable materials, but I don’t advertise. To claim it means being part of the system. My idea is to keep a garment for ten years in the wardrobe, then take it out and still want to wear it because it’s timeless. Mine is a work in progress. If a shirt is good, it’s good forever.”
“Couture is sustainable by definition. There is no overproduction, no minimum orders, and no sales. We produce only on orders, and everything is handmade. Moreover, we find our balance not in over profit. But if everybody gets well paid, we all can live. My staff has been working with me for 25 years. Always the same people, same suppliers. We understand each other. We work like this. Many pieces are made in casa, a la maison, in our atelier.”
And he smiled saying those words. Stubbornly showing a path that is a return to the essential, pure artisanal creativity.
The work of Marc Le Bihan: sustainable, indeed
The work of Marc Le Bihan is artisanal, creative, and independent. Though a rarity in the fashion system, it indicates a valuable business model for a sustainable future.
Usually, behind a collection, there are massive production chains. But there is still fine handcrafted work which we are not used to anymore. Understanding the time and dedication involved in making it is a good exercise.
This week we received Marc Le Bihan‘s order. The delivery was late, but we quietly waited for our selection we made during the Spring/Summer selling campaign in Milano.
The process behind a collection
In short, based on their inspiration, designers put together the ideas, design them and transform them into samples. Then, they show the pieces to international retailers in Milano, Paris, Tokyo, and New York. They take the orders and then launch the production, which is a real struggle nowadays. All this takes a lot of time, attention, and care. And stress too.
Specifically, in Marc Le Bihan’s case, it’s a 100% artisanal production. So take the usual time, attention, care and stress and multiply it by 100.
Now, add a pandemic that made the world stop. So production chains have been disrupted, and suppliers delivered raw materials late. This chain effect will impact the following seasons. The pandemic is not over yet, and as if it wasn’t enough, add the Russian invasion of Ukraine, a war in Europe. So take that dose of stress that we have just multiplied by 100 and double it down.
Perhaps this is the common denominator that connects everyone who runs an independent business. Corporations are affected too, but they play with money and they’ve got their basis covered. Also, they can find some easy loopholes. But independent companies, independent brands are the brave ones. They are at the heart of the communities, and they represent the real sustainable choice.
Artisanal rarities
Among independent brands, you find an authentic rarity like Marc Le Bihan. A designer who made his consistency one of the highest values. Couture and limited productions of high-quality garments made with care, clothes made by hand in his workshop. It is artisanal work, and it takes time.
Understanding the time needed to make tailored clothes means understanding and appreciating their quality and higher value. Our expectations were high and 100% confirmed by the absolute beauty of the clothes we unpacked.
Since quality takes time, we waited for it with reverence. Soon we will describe the pieces, and you’ll discover another universe, which is still possible. Now, more than ever!
Sunday morning, it was pouring hard when we reached our appointment with Marc Le Bihan – in Tortona district. Even though we made our selection the day before, we wanted to dig deeper into his profound couture universe. In a transitional era, where everything looks unstable and meaningless, his persistent artisanal contribution makes the difference.
Marc Le Bihan is a fashion designer, artist, and craftsman who creates clothes like a second skin. Indeed, his work goes beyond any classification. His conceptual creativity – manifested through impeccable tailoring, is the expression of a cultured and timeless approach to fashion that refuses trends and their transience. Completely disconnected from commercial fashion constraints, his couture is a rare example of consistency.
Marc Le Bihan: the interview
• What does it mean to be consistent? Keeping up with your vision when the rest of the world goes in a different direction? Marc Le Bihan: “The other direction is not my world. I do not understand it. To me, it’s a problem of society. I don’t understand the way of being, the lifestyle. That world is not me, and I can’t even think about it. Usually, I don’t watch TV. Yesterday I watched Italian TV, and I wondered, how is it possible? Women pretend to be free, showing exaggerated lips and boobs. But in that, I only see the reflection of a man’s vision. That is not freedom. It’s the fake image of a woman.”
• The state of fashion now. How do you see it? Marc Le Bihan: “The problem with fashion is that people only see the lights, the famous people. There is no sensibility to go further. Branded products are not luxury, not anymore. Luxury is rare, and it’s not for all. To me, it’s not about fashion but more about doing clothes my way. The two roads can cross each other but not as direction to follow.”
• What do you think about social media communication? Marc Le Bihan: “Famous people promote everything. They get paid to sell, it’s all about money. And not only for fashion. Maybe they promote a food they didn’t even taste. We live in the culture of image, not real life. People don’t live the moment, take pictures. And everything is ego-centered. People have lost the meaning of quality and quality of life. That is why I follow my path. And so, our communication is not to do any communication. Everything is too confused, there’s too much of it. We don’t have time for social media, we are busy making clothes. However, it’s not about posting a thousand things. Sometimes we post. Enough.”
Marc Le Bihan SS22
Fashion, culture & sustainability
• It’s a matter of culture and education? Marc Le Bihan: “Always. The first problem is education, for everything. The idea of accessing, through culture and education, to something higher – is dead. And I am concerned about young kids. Now they are totally immersed in this image game.”
• What do you think about sustainability? Marc Le Bihan: “Well, I did it 20 years ago! We were recycling and upcycling uniforms and parachutes. Now, I don’t want to be a part ofthat circle because everybody is doing it. It’s marketing. To me, it’s more about how we consume and live. Of course, I use sustainable materials, but I don’t advertise.To claim it means being part of the system. My idea is to keep a garment for ten years in the wardrobe, then take it out and still want to wear it because it’s timeless. Mine is a work in progress. If a shirt is good, it’s good forever.”
A final note about couture
“Couture is sustainable by definition. In fact, there is no overproduction, no minimum orders, and no sales. We produce only on orders, and everything is handmade. Moreover, we don’t find our balance in over profit. If everybody gets well paid, we all can live. Indeed, my staff has been working with me for 25 years. Always the same people, same suppliers. We understand each other. We work like this. Many pieces are made in casa, a la maison, in our atelier.”
He smiled saying those words. Stubbornly showing a path that is a return to the essential, pure artisanal creativity.
In a world full of empty marketing claims, unclear production regulations and massive greenwashing, if you want to buy a product, it’s very hard to differentiate between what is worthy and what is not.
First, we need to define value; Thoughtful design, fine quality standards expressed through good materials and skilled manufacturing, together with ethical production. Respect for people and the planet is the essence of modern evolved worth.
That said, we are perfectly aware it’s complicated to identify it. Here and there in our globalized jungle, we can see some lights.
Value: where do we find it?
We find the real value in small artisanal brands that feature a creative approach mixed with skilled craftsmanship and the selection of extra-fine quality materials.
We find value in up and coming or unconventional designers who show a high dose of creativity and innovation but talk to a limited audience because people see nothing but famous brands. A good rule of thumb says the higher worth usually resides in the less popular brands or products. The brands that everyone recognizes are rarely the best.
Those elevated products target a niche that has become smaller and smaller because the mainstream offers cheap products or top brands. In full disclosure, the state of some top brands is nothing exciting. Advertising is doing a good job creating automatons that don’t even raise their eyes, manifesting a minimum level of curiosity.
Although we cannot imagine a world made of sublime products only, the opposite trend is tangible so far. If we analyze the state of culture, we can see that lowering the bar is the main trend. In fact, culture is not in good shape at all.
On the other hand, some individuals are different, never stopped reading or searching for unique things. They still think for themselves. Being out of the mainstream, maybe people like us cannot invert the trend, not in the short run, at least. But, we should join and raise our voices in support of value because it’s time to stop celebrating mediocrity.
If we cannot invert the trend, we can still make a difference.
