DESIGNER
ELOÏSE PTITO-ECHEVERRIA
Words by Katie Farley
A designer who creatively attains an adoring appetite for tangible textiles, intricate embroideries and a concoction of colorings, Eloïse Ptito-Echeverria’s garments are abundant with crafty vivaciousness and delectable artful wonders. Born in Montréal, Ptito-Echeverria conducts her original and dexterous style pieces in Toronto, where she acquired a BDes in Fashion Design at Ryerson University in 2017. Her creations intermingle a subtle melodramatic element, which is undoubtedly a result of her Theatre Design studies at Concordia University in 2013.
A desirable dichotomy of fabrications, vivid hues and elaborate prints and patterns are beautifully amalgamated in a series of works that some would argue perhaps should not marry but in this instance, do so with the utmost excitement and allure. Particular examples of this are seen to be illustrated amid Eloïse’s ‘Wearables’ collection. Note the varied fabricated bustier styled with an octopus’s legged-skirt made from tentacles of different woolens and a fitted corset sweetheart neckline dress that occupies a riot of contradicting colors (red’s, oranges, blues, and blacks) and patterns (ornate brocades, stripes, florals and zig-zags).
Fauve is the title of the upcoming designer’s textile-focused line of sartorial garments that she additionally runs on the side of her eponymous label. Limited editions of unique albeit timeless pieces are handcrafted in collections that transmit a characteristically eccentric style of her very own. Always inspired by the zeitgeist of the Fauvist painting period, the textile-enthused apparel is similarly marked by the chaos of colors applied throughout. “Fauve serves as the brainchild of such inspirations and an outlet where Eloïse can experiment and indulge shamelessly in her life-long love of color, embroidery, and textile”, as expressed on the designer’s online platform.
With an unconditional feeling that the magic of color can encompass empowering abilities, Fauve attains great pride in awakening art into functional and wearable garments, achieved via an equalling cohort of historical and revolutionary textile practices, including Rococo hand-embroidery. All the fabrics that are applied within Fauve are made using Ptito-Echeverria’s bespoke watercolor paintings and motifs, which are digitally printed in her hometown of Montréal, and expertly cut and sewn in Toronto, where the finalized pieces are worked on.
Obeying to the latest rules set by the fashion industries standard along with being a slave to today’s carousel of prevailing trends isn’t on this designer’s working agenda. Instead, she ultimately aspires to craft heirloom pieces that will provide individual, stylish pleasure to on-going generations of females.
Eloïse Ptito-Echeverria’s spring/summer 2018 womenswear collection entitled, “The Many Muses” extracts artful inspiration from Jeanne Hébuterne, Fränzi Fehrmann, and Rosa Rolanda: three varied muses of beloved male painters. The textile-focused line draws on previous thoughts over the years, whilst converts as a creative dedication to the named women who were a source of continuous inspiration to Echeverria amid her own design developments.
“Through varied textures, hand-painted nudes, experimental embroidery, and digitally-printed textiles, I seek to honor the luminous creativity of these women that is often overlooked”, vocalizes the designer of her latest collection. Key pieces throughout including a longline tailored, sun adorned jacket, a tunic dress with an illustrated nude figure emblazoned and a garland of gold leaves cascading down the V neckline and pair of delectable gold print trousers with a gossamer orange skirt overlaid.
In a time where simplistic and minimal designs seem to be in fashions favor, Eloïse Ptito-Echeverria’s highly decretive and artful textiles and embroideries make for an exciting addition amongst today’s somewhat samey aesthetics.
