formodernhumans Archives

Marc Le Bihan FW25/26: Consistency and repetition in a chaotic world

24 March, 2025 / Leave a Comment

Reading Time: 4 minutes

Why a steady vision defies the ever-changing fashion industry

In a fashion industry grappling with a crisis of identity, Marc Le Bihan FW25/26 collection—spanning both prêt-à-porter and couture—offers a steady foothold. One of exceptional beauty. His unwavering commitment to consistency and repetition stands as a testament to values that are increasingly rare in today’s frenetic landscape. In a world of flux, Marc Le Bihan’s work is a quiet rebellion, a reminder that timelessness can still exist.

The fashion world is no stranger to upheaval. Creative directors hop from one maison to another, prioritising their own ego over the heritage and DNA of the brands they helm. The result? A homogenised sea of sameness, stripped of individuality and meaning. This relentless churn of leadership only amplifies the instability of an already fragile industry. It begs the question: in an era defined by permacrisis, is this cycle of paranoid instability truly what we need? Or does it merely perpetuate chaos?

We believe the answer comes from Marc Le Bihan.

Marc Le Bihan FW25/26 artisanal fashion: Rarities for the rare

When we received Marc Le Bihan’s lookbooks and line sheets, we were struck—once again—by the beauty and distinctiveness of his vision. Each piece, meticulously crafted, tells a story of continuity. The collection features impalpable fabrics such as pongé silk and tulle—staples that elevate the ethereal quality of his designs. The dolcezza fabric, a luxuriously soft cotton blend, adds a tactile dimension, while jacquard and more structured textures provide contrast and depth.

Marc Le Bihan couture

The colour palette is equally considered, moving from pearl and taupe to steel, black, and vibrant shades of red. As the colour card notes, all products are hand-dyed, meaning slight irregularities and subtle tonal variations may occur. This artisanal touch not only underscores the uniqueness of each garment but also reinforces the philosophy of timelessness and individuality that defines Le Bihan’s exacting tailoring.

Season after season, he builds his collections like a wardrobe—one timeless garment at a time. This approach is not just gratifying; it’s revolutionary. In a world obsessed with the next big trend, Marc Le Bihan’s radical design is a pledge: when you invest in his creations, they will never fall out of fashion.

We encourage you to revisit our interview with Marc Le Bihan, as his words remain as relevant today as they were when first spoken:

“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.”

Final thoughts

While many brands chase the ephemeral allure of trends, Marc Le Bihan offers something far more profound: comfort in consistency. His designs are not just garments of exceptional beauty; they are anchors in a turbulent sea. He is a beacon of stability, a rare figure in an industry that has, for the most part, lost its way.

Yet, Le Bihan’s consistency is an exception, not the rule. In a world of excess and instability, his work stands as a rarity—a testament to the enduring power of a steady vision. As Nietzsche once said, “Everything rare for the rare.” To wear Marc Le Bihan is to embody this ethos. It is to declare that you are not common, that you value the enduring over the fleeting.

In a chaotic world, Marc Le Bihan FW25/26 is more than fashion—it’s a philosophy for modern humans. And in an industry crying out for direction, it’s a philosophy worth celebrating.

📲 Claim your piece of Marc Le Bihan’s rare elegance—contact us via WhatsApp or email.

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suite123 Goes Bilingual: A Global Conversation #ForModernHumans

12 February, 2025 / Leave a Comment

Reading Time: 3 minutes

Bridging cultures, uniting voices

Announcing a global conversation #formodernhumans: suite123 goes bilingual!

We launched the suite123 blog in 2021 during a challenging time when we were reimagining our business for the online world. However, we soon realised that posting only in English wasn’t inclusive for many Italians. To truly honour the spirit of Italian culture and connect more deeply with our community, we’re excited to announce a new beginning: a bilingual journey that reflects who we are and who we serve.

A brief history

Since 2006, in Milan’s Porta Romana area, we’ve curated a unique selection of pieces from international designers and independent brands, offering our personal perspective on fashion. Our goal has always been to help you craft a distinctive, individual style that reflects who you are.

After 15 years in our physical store, the pandemic prompted us to reflect on the shifts in our own lifestyles and inspired us to embrace a more sustainable approach to fashion—without compromising on great design and quality. This led us to transition to the online world, where we found new ways to connect with our community.

On 18 May 2021, we launched our blog as a platform to question the fashion industry and explore contemporary culture in the context of climate change. At the time, we chose to write in English to ensure our content was accessible to an international audience. As a small business, focusing on one language also made our operations more manageable.

Our turning point: listening to our community

However, every choice has its drawbacks. We acknowledged that our decision excluded a significant part of our community, as not everyone could access content in English. Feedback from our Italian readers underscored the importance of communicating in our native language—because every voice matters.

So, we decided to adapt our approach. Today, we’re thrilled to announce that every post will be published in both Italian and English, ensuring that everyone feels part of our community. Simply click the flag in the top right of the homepage and choose your preferred language.

suite123 bilingual: what to expect

• Quality and Inclusivity: Our editorial focus—questioning the fashion industry, exploring contemporary culture in the context of climate change, and showcasing niche fashion and meaningful garments—remains unchanged, but with greater attention to linguistic inclusiveness.

• Bridging Cultures: This choice not only makes the blog accessible to a wider audience but also creates a bridge between different cultures.

This transformation is a step towards a more direct and interactive dialogue, one that values diversity and encourages active participation, breaking free from social media’s dictatorship, where algorithms enforce conformity and stifle dissent.

suite123 goes bilingual: join the conversation

We invite you, our readers, to share your comments and suggestions below or on social media using #ForModernHumans.

Each contribution helps shape our future and ensures that suite123 remains a space for meaningful, inclusive, and inspiring conversations.

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Just Thank You

30 December, 2024 / Leave a Comment

Reading Time: 2 minutes

Reflecting on a year of quiet revolution and shared gratitude

As we close the year, we want to pause, reflect, and simply say thank you. 2024 has been a challenging year for humanity and ecology—and for fashion. Yet, we are deeply grateful to everyone who has been part of our journey, a quiet revolution #formodernhumans.

Since 2006, we’ve championed an alternative vision of fashion—one that values quality over quantity, value over noise, and creativity over mindless trends. This year, our dedication to curating meaningful garments from independent designers has remained unwavering. A quiet revolution amid the devastating clamour of the fashion industry and its commercial noise.

In a world where business logic flattens creativity, your support has kept our vision alive. You are the heart of what we do, and for that, we extend our deepest gratitude:

To each person who purchased from us: we exist thanks to you. To every person who embraced our ethos and supported our boutique, your trust is our foundation. You make our existence possible.

To the designers—the creative minds behind every stitch, sketch, and idea—your work inspires us daily. Thank you for sharing your creativity and enriching our selection with your unique vision.

To our commercial partners—those who have treated us with care and humanity—thank you for being allies in our mission.

To our contributors, blog readers, and community—your engagement sparks meaningful conversations and keeps this journey vibrant.

Finally, thank you for the moments you’ve shared with us, for inspiring one another and for allowing us to shape a unique narrative.

As we step into a new year, we carry your trust in our vision as a beacon of hope—for fashion, humanity, and the planet.

Thank you for being an integral part of our story. Together, we move forward with purpose.

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Fashion Retailers: Part of an Industry Unwilling to Change

14 October, 2024 / Leave a Comment

Reading Time: 3 minutes

Challenging the status quo for a sustainable future

Today, fashion retailers are part of an industry that continues to uphold a culture that fiercely defends the status quo. Specifically, fashion retailers contribute to this stagnation, showing little interest in exploring new, innovative ways of operating their businesses.

Profit remains the guiding principle of the fashion industry. This relentless focus blinds it to the true cost of doing business: the exploitation of labour and natural resources. Ethical practices take a backseat, as they don’t align with profit-driven motives. In fact, respectful work doesn’t generate massive returns; only extraction and exploitation do. But in this race for profit and growth, the system is falling apart.

The role of fashion retailers

In this unstable context, the role of retailers becomes particularly intriguing to examine. Despite ongoing conversations with industry peers, we see no signs of change. There’s no intent, no effort to try something different. Retailers, facing declining sales and increasing store closures, feel trapped in a vicious cycle. Believing they have no alternatives, they continue ordering excessive stock and relying on heavy discounts. But these actions only fuel the system that’s contributing to their downfall.

Following the system may seem like the path of least resistance for now, but it’s clear that the system is broken. Corporations, brands, retailers – they all know it. Yet by conforming to these failing norms, they accelerate the industry’s downward spiral.

Amidst this turmoil, brands, retailers, and all industry players must make a concerted effort to grasp the complex realities shaping today’s market. The luxury sector, for instance, finds itself in a state of stagnation. The niche clientele that supported independent brands in the ‘90s and early 2000s has dwindled to near extinction. Today, both affluent and less affluent consumers gravitate toward cheap, disposable fashion.
Is this a temporary shift? Or have people’s attitudes toward fashion fundamentally changed?

Fashion retailers vs change

If overproduction was already senseless, now in the face of the climate crisis, it’s even more absurd, as consumers are no longer willing to buy these products. So why are fashion retailers still unwilling to change their buying practices? Why do they ignore small independent brands focusing only on those who produce huge quantities?

The question is no longer if the system will collapse. It seems we’re already on the brink. The real question is how much longer we – fashion retailers, brands, the industry – will prop it up before embracing the change that’s urgently needed.

🖤 Dive into our latest post, and don’t hesitate to reach out. You can comment here below (just register first), or drop us an email or WhatsApp. We’d love to hear from you! Whether you have questions, feedback, or just want to say hello, we’re all ears.

Let’s start a conversation! #formodernhumans

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Designers Repeating Themselves vs Journalists’ Commentary

2 October, 2024 / Leave a Comment

Reading Time: 3 minutes

Paris Fashion Week SS25 highlights the death of fashion criticism

At Paris Fashion Week SS25, we saw the emergence of constructed silhouettes and a renewed desire for more dressy styles; a longing to dress up once again. However, the most striking observation is designers repeating themselves. That coincides with the disappearance of what once was true fashion criticism.

In his critique of Milan Fashion Week, Tim Blanks of B.O.F. highlighted a lack of identity among Italian brands. So, what should we say about Paris Fashion Week? Aside from a few exceptions, like Chloé, Saint Laurent, Yohji Yamamoto, Chanel or Miu Miu — who delivered shows deeply rooted in their brand’s identity and heritage — most others could have been anyone.

Fashion criticism and designers repeating themselves

We’ve seen high praise for Alessandro Michele’s work at Valentino, which is surprising given that his approach seems merely centred on his own aesthetic. It’s as if he’s saying, ‘I love flea market style, and that’s what I bring wherever I go.’ Hasn’t he replicated what he did at Gucci? The only difference is the brand name. But just as one swallow doesn’t make a summer, a bow or a frill doesn’t make Valentino. So, it’s puzzling to read such glowing reviews from journalists when social media reactions have been far less favourable. Many users have called it a Gucci replica, with comments like ‘he destroyed one brand, now he’s doing the same to Valentino,’ and ‘he doesn’t realise people are tired of this.’ Others suggest, ‘he should launch his own brand.’ We’ve explained why he won’t in a previous discussion. Here’s an excerpt:

But why don’t these creative directors launch their namesake brands? They avoid it because out of that box, they lose their relevance. Their skills rely on immense archives and huge investments. They excel at styling and marketing, but the creativity of a fashion designer is a different matter. Their ego overpowers.

Indeed, the journalists’ comments couldn’t be more disconnected from those on social media.

The death of fashion criticism

So yes, we agree with Tim Blanks that brands lack identity. But someone must inform him that this issue isn’t exclusive to Milan. Top brands that have lost their original designers have completely lost their identity as well. They’re now focused solely on making money, and it’s hard to tell one from the other. Boundaries have blurred, and this is one of the reasons why fashion has lost its appeal.

However, we disagree with Tim Blanks and other journalists who praise designers who keep repeating themselves wherever they go. It seems they’re doing it just to secure their front-row invitations.

Fashion hasn’t just lost its identity. Also, it has lost its sense of critique. One style, one pattern, one mindset. No room for dissent.

Let’s start a conversation!

#formodernhumans

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