Commuun
Commuun: seven letters which hold the meaning of a creative vision which places fashion in a global, natural context that is entirely of its time. When Iku Furudate and Kaito Hori joined forces to launch the brand in 2005, they wanted a name that would reflect their own preoccupations as global citizens as well as fashion designers. Hence Commuun, with its suggestions of community, communication, communion… The decision to work as a team was as natural as the two designers’ creative methods. A graduate of Bunka Fashion College and Central Saint Martins, Iku’s eye for draping and nuance complements Kaito’s flair for tailoring and vision of balance or imbalance in a design, both gleaned during his formal training at New York’s FIT and Arnhem Academy of Arts. A Commuun garment is therefore the product of an organic collaboration between two designers, reflecting the contrasting approaches of two symbiotic talents with a truly global outlook. The success of this pairing is evident: present at Paris Fashion Week since 2005, Commuun was awarded the LVMH and Longchamp ANDAM prizes in 2007. Their clothes are sold internationally, including l’Eclaireur in Paris, Dover Street Market in London and 10 CorsoComo in Japan.
If the Commuun style breathes a cosmopolitan yet subdued chic, the Commuun philosophy can be summarised in three essential words: nature, respect and quality. Finding inspiration in the timeless geometrical elegance of haute couture from the 1950s and 60s, Commuun garments cocoon the body thanks to an absolute dedication to the perfection of cut, pattern and technique. Deceivingly simple patterns adapt themselves cunningly to the wearer’s body. Fabrics follow this quest for quality, with a further concern for the environment. In equation with the designers’ own awareness of the necessity for a sustainable way of life, all fabrics and processes are entirely natural. This is not a gimmick, but an expression of respect for the planet and its inhabitants. Each collection finds its inspiration in nature and its varied landscapes, reflecting abstract variations on muted tones with flashes of bright colour. Fabric textures mimic the metallic sheen of an insect, the coarse appearance of dried earth… Like the different continents of the globe, subsequent collections are conceived to exist in harmony – a garment is created to exist and endure, to be adapted by the wearer and to be mixed with pieces from other seasons. This focus on functionality again emphasises a respect for the clothes themselves as well as the customer. A draped, belted jacket or a flowing dress are items to be treasured for life, not to be thrown away at the end of the season.
By creating a wardrobe that is at once beautiful, timeless and sustainable, Iku Furudate and Kaito Hori express a new form of ethical and intelligent luxury. Commuun’s collections suggest a way of life and a form of dressing that is universal and essential. And as indispensable as community, or communication…
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