JAN-JAN VAN ESSCHE

RITE

An Eternal Ritual of Craft and Culture

January 11, 2023, a night in Florence.

Enveloped in the silence of Santa Maria Novella Church, the fabric quietly transcends time.

The inherited spirit of craftsmanship lives on quietly in the play of light and shadow.

Eventually, everything resonates together and becomes one ritual.

The JAN JAN VAN ESSCHE (JJVE) show was not just a presentation of a collection, but an experience of interacting with time.

The Invitation

Invitation to the ceremony

A Silent Prelude

Silent Prelude

A moment that transcends time and quietly waits for the beginning.

An invitation was quietly placed on the hotel bed.

There is no unnecessary decoration.

However, every time I touch the paper, I can feel its quiet heartbeat.

That was the signal for the ceremony doors to open.

A Sacred Space, Bathed in Light

A sanctuary bathed in light

History whispers through illuminated stone.

History is illuminated and speaks quietly.

Church of Santa Maria Novella.

A place of prayer that has existed since 1246.

As night falls, the sacred atmosphere becomes even stronger.

The illuminated facade quietly signaled the start of the ceremony.


Santa Maria Novella church seen from the hotel window.

The faint light of the morning glow envelops the city, and the silence of the night lingers in its wake.

The view that unfolded before my eyes was not just a landscape, but the lingering impression of this special night.

The Stage of Art and Movement

A stage for art and movement

A Threshold Before the Ritual

The boundary where the ritual begins

The space breathes in anticipation.

The space holds its breath quietly, a sign of the ritual.

Part 1: Silence and Majesty

A Process of Cloth and Light

Fabric and Light Procession

The first steps into the ritual begin in silence.

The first step towards the ritual begins in silence.

Church hall.

The moment the models appeared, silence reigned.

JJVE's PROJECT#11 "RITE"

The weight of the fabric and its tranquil movement evoke memories of ancient rituals.

A collection inspired by Pina Bausch's "The Rite of Spring."

Melody and silence intertwine, and the flow of the fabric creates sound.

Part 2: The Rhythm of Life

Dancers in Motion

Animated fabric

Breath and movement weave a story into the fabric.

Next came the performance by the dancers.

The tie-dyed fabric swayed and danced, showing that clothing is not just a "thing" but a life itself.

The rhythm created by their movements was a symbol of the freedom and harmony inherent in JJVE's designs.

Part 3: Dialogue through touch

A Moment of Profound Connection

A moment of profound dialogue

As they come into contact with the fabric, a quiet understanding is exchanged.

There were many memorable moments from this show.

The Margiela Muse

Its presence completely changes the atmosphere.

The Artisan Behind the Threads

Thread spinner

A handwoven story carried by light and whispered through time.

The final person to appear on the runway was artisan Lamine Diouf, wearing textiles that he had woven himself.

The fabric has the warmth of being handcrafted and the power to transcend time.

JJVE's "Philosophy of Clothing"

A Vision in Fabric

Woven Philosophy

A dialogue between tradition and modernity.

A piece of fabric where tradition and modernity interact.

JJVE's clothing is imbued with the past and future, nature and humanity, stillness and movement.

Respect for the materials, the inheritance of artisanal techniques, and freedom for the wearer.

This philosophy resonates with BORDEAUX's values.

I want you to carry this feeling in your everyday life.

lastly

Birds Flying Over the Arno River

Birds flying over the Arno