A talk with Colville
Do you remember the first time you met? How did you get to know each other?
We met at Marni and worked together for over ten years. We got to know each other there and we had the chance to create many collections together.
We would ask both of you to talk a little bit about your career path. What were you doing before Colville? When did you realise that you wanted and it was the right time to start a project together?
In the same period we were both working at Marni, Lucinda was also Fashion Director at British Vogue and Molly co-founded the magazine Parterre de Rois.
We knew we wanted to continue working together when we left Marni, we couldn’t imagine otherwise, so we launched Colville out of necessity! We wanted clothes for ourselves, an outward expression of who we are inside. Pieces that lasted and felt unique, and that mattered.
What values is Colville based on?
Authenticity, originality, sustainability.
We aim at empowering women across the world, working with their skills and ours to produce beautiful and relevant pieces for today’s world. With this in mind, consciousness has been an important value from the beginning: we strive to make changes, putting better practices in place. Our collections are meant to be used, treasured, and kept. And we deeply value collaborations, both with our internal and external teams.
What role does sustainability play within the brand?
Sustainability is a constant challenge. We try every day, in every decision we take, to make a sustainable one. Within our collections we use deadstock fabrics and upcycled already existing garments. 50% of our fabric bases are eco-friendly, but we have more to do, and we always need to improve, constantly looking for new ways to be sustainable.
The environmental and climatic crisis is calling for people to become more aware of their lifestyle choices, working together for a greater good. What are three pieces of advice you would give to consumers to be more conscious and sustainable?
To invest in pieces that you love, have a longevity and that you can pass on to the next generation. Always control where the garments and the products are made, how and by who. Buy one single piece each season that costs more, but has been ethically made.
How would you describe your relationship with ceramics?
We love it, you can do incredible things with ceramics. It’s such a historic technique with which you can realise a million different creations with, working on patterns, textures, colour and scale. Ceramics is different from many other materials because you can use it with great effect on a very small and precious area, as well as on a massive scale that can have huge impact.
You have worked with Mutina on a special event, that took place in September at Casa Mutina Milano. How did the collaboration develop? What kind of project have you presented?
We presented the Colville SS24 collection at Casa Mutina Milano showroom. We love to collaborate and coming up with different ideas. Mutina is a wonderful fit! The pieces have been showcased in such an imaginative and unexpected way, in direct contact with ceramics, in a unique environment.
Do you remember the first time you got into contact with Mutina? What struck you the most about the company?
We met through mutual colleagues in 2020. Then, we went to meet Massimo and Giuliana at their offices in Modena and we got blown away by their world. We felt inspired. It’s incredible how they have taken an ancient technique and revolutionised it for the 21st Century. Also, the company is constantly evolving, which is beautiful.
Do you have a favourite Mutina collection? Why?
We particularly like Nathalie Du Pasquier’s collections. We love the colours, the sense of humour, the textures and the fact that many pieces are three-dimensional.
Imagine that you’re asked to develop a ceramic collection. What would you do?
The real question is: what wouldn’t we do?! We would love to do tables, stools, walls and floors, as well as smaller decorative objects such as vases, bookends and shelves. We love ceramics as much as clothings, and paintings as much as shoes… there’s no limit on what we want to make and create.
“We aim at empowering women across the world, working with their skills and ours to produce beautiful and relevant pieces for today’s world. With this in mind, consciousness has been an important value from the beginning: we strive to make changes, putting better practices in place.”
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