Givenchy: Fall 2011 Couture

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[Tim] The rigorous 18th century architecture

of the Hotel de Fleurie is a perfect setting

for Riccardo Tisci's latest couture collectsion

for Givenchy which is equally rigorous

in it's use of extraordianry techniques.

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[Riccardo] What is modernity in couture?

To really not be scared to mix lifestyle

like you know, urban.

Something very modern, bring it on a couture evening dress.

Two years ago when I start to go plastic zip

on couture like super expensive dress.

I thought all the clients would ask to change the zip

and to bring invisible zip which is classic.

And actually now, it's become such a sign

for Givenchy to really go to the classic way

to do couture like you know, the way, sewing by hands,

build on the bodice, super like respect to the shape

of the woman by (mumbles) as well

like modernity with zips

and the fact that you can wear in different way.

That for me what is for us is the future.

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This technique which is very old technique

of couture, caviar technique

is very difficult to sew because

they're very, very tiny, tiny beads.

[Tim] Caviar beads.

Yeah.

[Tim] They are not applied one by one.

And of course, the pearls that you see in these dresses,

they're very specific.

They like took eight months to do it.

This is a crystal ball

and inside you have you know, cat eyes material?

[Tim] Cat's eyes.

[Riccardo] Yes, like you know, catching the light

and it's bright.

You see, like modern light is like a strung

around the pearls.

I'm always changing, it start like glowing.

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This dress is one of the most expensive long dress to make

because all the (mumbles) you see it

is a 300 meter of silk tulle

and they're all cut by hands.

And they are layers like

in mathematic, really honestly is a very symmetric,

completely symmetric layers of tulles sewn on.

Basically when you wear it, you have this like,

like fish on your body by (mumbles) making two

which is the most light and romantic material thing

that exist in couture.

And this is my favorite look actually to be honest.

[Tim] So how many of those would you actually sell?

[Riccardo] I mean, it depends because sometimes clients

they're asking exclusivity.

When they ask exclusivity,

you can sell only one.

When it's exclusivity,

it's most amazing couture,

thing you can do because it's the only one

in the world.

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[Tim] Couture is absolute obsession

and your work is about obsession, isn't it?

[Riccardo] Yean, now my work is about obsession

but like especially couture is about emotion.

To have experimental, very high experimental

craft and everything but like it still

I keep the tradition of the house.

This is why I didn't want to do cut-work anymore.

(mumbles) you don't even see it.

You just get the mood of dress,

but you don't see the details.

With (mumbles) you can do a mood

because you're buying the style of the season.

Couture should be something that

stay forever in your wardrobe.

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