HORTENSETILLET | Trendsetter

Presented by LULU KNOWS

@hortensetillet

BASIC: What is your artist statement and what does your brand stand for?

I try to express the difficulty of being yourself within the outside world, pushing for more individualism while drowning everybody into societal norms. My work presents paradoxical characters—mixing elegance and ridicule. I divert classical fashion codes, shaking them to apprehend life less seriously and make everything feel a bit lighter.

BASIC: If you had to create a Red Carpet look from food, which products would you choose and why?

A huge coat made of cooked spaghetti because I love spaghetti! Imagine all of the spaghetti bouncing over a red carpet. Bon appétit!

BASIC: If you had to dress any cartoon character, who would it be and why?

Without a doubt, Yzma in The Emperor’s New Groove. She is the incarnation of creative madness. I would also choose Kaa, the snake from The Jungle Book for the biblical reference, his body shape, and attitude.

BASIC: What has been the most memorable experience of your career?

It depends if we’re talking about good or bad memories. I have both. Last year, during Paris Fashion Week, I was an assistant in a show backstage. I had to put a bra on a model to hide her breasts. She was so compressed that she fainted minutes before the show. I was shocked that nobody understood the absurdity of the situation, even in 2020.

The thing I love about designing collections is the wide variety of collaborations it often implies. I’m always amazed to meet and have the chance to work with talented craftsmen, tailors, and other artists like photographers, graphic designers, and musicians—the models too. Every collaboration has been memorable to me.

BASIC: If you could wear only one runway designer for the rest of your life, who would it be and why?

Phoebe Philo forever. I’m in love with Celine. Phoebe’s work is timeless to me. She really hit the spot in terms of elegance and making magnificent clothes that you can wear in any circumstance.