10 Aug 2022
Spring 22 ‘Provenance’ is a collection inspired by the incomparable, effortless glamour and honeyed light of the south of France, as epitomised by La Colombe d’Or or ‘The Golden Dove’.
The storied hotel, a refined and eclectic inn founded by Paul Roux and his wife Baptistine in 1931 in Saint Paul de Vence on the French Riviera, was a home away from home for the most revered and celebrated artists, writers and actors of the 20th century. Visitors included Picasso, Matisse and Miró, as well as feminist philosopher Simone de Beauvoir and sculptors César and Calder.
This eccentric melting pot of creatives found their way to the mesmerising setting and, over time, contributed many great works of art that continue to be on display today. It was the golden light of Provence that inspired the artists in residence to see colour in a new way, experimenting with new reliefs and colour palettes.
The mid-20th century was a golden era for art and cinema with the dawn of the Nouveau Vague. The two intertwined at La Colombe D’Or, with Cannes only a short trip away. Dazzling starlets such as Bridgitte Bardot were known to visit, and their enigmatic and feminine beauty permeated throughout the legendary inn.
Aje’s Creative Directors Edwina Forest and Adrian Norris wanted to explore this merging of worlds; the ‘bon vivance’ of La Colombe d’Or and why certain places have a golden energy that draws creatives to them.
The result is a collection embodying the Aje DNA with beautifully evolved techniques. Find new silhouettes, embellishments framing intricate cut out detailing, bubble hemlines and exaggerated proportions. The pairing of volume and structure further materialises in signature voluminous sleeves, evolved pleating, deconstructed corsetry and braiding.
‘Provenance’ is an ode to a rich cultural moment in time; a sense of place and belonging, and a joie de vivre.
