In contrast to the noise of limitless production, there is an elegance that is chosen in silence: that of someone who only manufactures what is necessary. In an atelier, time and materials are respected, and each garment exists because it has a reason to exist, not because it has to fill a shop window.
Proximity, craftsmanship and sustainability Our conversation with the designers of Malne is guided by the values of slow fashion, which respects timing, avoids unnecessary stock, and preserves beauty. The interview proposes a different way of understanding luxury, in which producing less becomes a way of doing things well.
What does it mean to create slow fashion from an atelier that produces only what is necessary?
Slow fashion means not creating unnecessary and polluting waste of fabrics, not using skilled labor at low prices in another country to make ethically dubious profits; it means a declaration, from fashion, of making a better world.
How does slow fashion differ from fast fashion when we talk about design, time, and craftsmanship?
Slow fashion and luxury are not necessarily the same. There are slow fashion brands that offer affordable prices because they use industrial techniques and inexpensive fabrics. Slow fashion, combined with designer fashion (a distinctive style) and craftsmanship, is what we call haute couture.
Why are many women looking for sustainable clothing with a more personal story behind it?
Women who consume high-quality, designer fashion seek a brand that makes them feel both themselves and special. They are also looking for an artist to dress them, because they feel the need for fashion as an artistic expression.
Where can you find slow fashion for women when you're looking for local brands, designer pieces, and something special?
All these characteristics come together in haute couture fashion houses, whether local, in your country, or in large international brands with their own atelier. At Malne, we stand out because the designers always attend directly to our clients, whereas in other brands, national or international, you're served by members of the team, but not the designer personally, or even by a sales assistant. At Malne, haute couture is experienced as a classic 21st-century atelier experience, in addition to being a place to shop.
How can you build a responsible fashion industry without unnecessary stock and without sacrificing beauty?
We don't know how to do it any other way.
