INTERVIEW:FRENCH ILLUSTRATOR AND DESIGNER PIERRE LOUIS MASCIA

Pierre-Louis Mascia’s new collection for S/S 2011 features a kaleidoscopic mix of iconic vintage prints.

By Anna Battista

There is always a strong sense of freedom and liberation in Pierre-Louis Mascia’s (www.pierrelouismascia.com) collections. The French illustrator and fashion designer creates unisex pieces such as jumpers and scarves in a variety of luxurious materials characterised by a mix of prints that, researched from different archives and inspired by vintage vibes, give an original feel to silk and cashmere.

Mascia added vibrant yet subtle splashes of colours to his muted palette for the Spring/Summer 2011 season. His new collection is marked by a special dichotomy: it is indeed elegant and luxurious yet casual and sporty at the same time, and also features a new piece, a thin windbreaker covered in Mascia’s iconic prints that has the potential of becoming a must for both men and women. How to wear it at its best? Simple, Mascia states, just mix it with different items, letting colours and prints clash and combine, freeing creativity and using garments as if they were Lego blocks.

Zoot Magazine: Your new collection features thin and light garments such as a windbreaker characterised by a mix of unique prints, have you been experimenting with weights in the last few months?

Pierre-Louis Mascia: In a way yes, I wanted something very thin like a scarf that felt and looked like silk yet that could give at the same time the illusion of being a jersey shirt, so I went for a printed thin jacket in windbreaker style. I guess the interesting thing about it is that, since the prints make it look more sophisticated than it actually is, you forget it’s a casual windbreaker and can wear it to formal events.

Zoot Magazine: A while back you did a series of viral videos about how to wear your scarves: how would you wear your windbreaker?

Pierre-Louis Mascia: Probably with one of my scarves! The fun thing about my pieces is that you can mix them with other colourful items, playing with them as if they were Lego blocks and free in this way your creativity. My designs are quite optimistic and mainly based on adding a bit of colour to people’s life.  Through them I ask people to be creative and enjoy creating new looks. This is the main reason why I don’t think I’ll ever design a special outfit: I want people to interpret my pieces according to their taste and style and be free.

You can see the full videos on his website (www.pierrelouismascia.com)

Image source: Style Salvage

Zoot Magazine: Some of your new pieces look very sporty, but also very elegant, are you trying to give sportswear an innovative and sophisticated touch?

Pierre-Louis Mascia: I always try to stand in the middle with my pieces, coming up with collections that aren’t too sophisticated or too casual, and with pieces that aren’t too masculine or too feminine. That’s mainly because I like focusing on unisex accessories that add little pieces to the puzzle of my world and complete it each season with something innovative.

Zoot Magazine: Will you be adding new shapes to your collection of iconic bags inspired by Maurice Ravel or maybe focus on shoes one day?

Pierre-Louis Mascia: I’ve added one new shape to my bag collection for the next season since there are already so many brands designing bags and I want to preserve my style and be very classic. I would love to do shoes, even though it’s very complicated for the time being. I guess it would be easier if it were a co-branding with someone else. At the moment I don’t have much time to focus on such projects because I’m also working on my next winter collection selecting all the prints and patterns and developing further knits and cashmere pieces.

Zoot Magazine: Are you planning to experiment with any special fibres in future?

Pierre-Louis Mascia: I’m very traditional and old-fashioned and I think that it’s usually how you turn and twist things that makes the real difference rather than the yarn you use. I would definitely like to do something with wool one day, while for the time being I’m more focused on silk because it allows you to be extremely creative.

Zoot Magazine: You often presented your collections together with art works, like Julie Gauthron and, more recently, Cyril Hatt’s: do you see your presentations as opportunities to mix art and fashion together?

Pierre-Louis Mascia: I’ve set myself one goal, collaborating each season with an artist who is also a friend. Cyril Hatt works with collages, taking pictures of different objects and then recreating them in an amazing three-dimensional way. He was almost an obvious choice since the colours of his works also go well with my new designs.

Zoot Magazine: What are you working on at the moment?

Pierre-Louis Mascia: I just have new drawings and illustrations ready and will use them for a new collection of scarves. I’m becoming more creative each season but I have to take one step at the time because the factory producing my work often asks me to give them a break! So I guess that in the next few months I’ll just get on with my work, while trying to be at peace with myself and let my creativity flow.

Pierre-Louise Mascia will be at Paris’ Premiere Classe (www.premiere-classe-tuileries.com) from 1^st to 4^th October 2010.