Viviers FW24 at Milan Fashion Week

Viviers FW24 / Fall Winter 2024 at Milan Fashion Week

TEXTILE INNOVATION: Viviers is driven by a commitment to innovation and collaboration. The latest manifestation of this ethos unfolds in Viviers’ ongoing collaboration with Cape Wools SA and Mohair South Africa, the esteemed representatives of South Africa’s wool and mohair industries.

This partnership signifies our ongoing mission towards illuminating the abundant and sustainable natural resources that define South Africa’s textile landscape, spotlighting the exceptional versatility and sustainability inherent in South African wool, mohair, and ostrich products. Beyond mere fashion, this Viviers FW24 collaboration serves to educate consumers about the profound impact of material choice, fostering meaningful connections within the industry.

This collaborative effort, in conjunction with TWYG Magazine, showcases the transformative power of uniting and holding hands, showcasing the best of South Africa’scraftsmen.

One remarkable outcome of this collaboration is the creation of Cape Tweed, a ready-to-wear textile derived from an artisanal, hand-spun/hand-woven wool and studio waste experiment that was initially created by longtime collaborator, Maddelein Anderson from the Pretoria Weaver’s Guild. Crafted with 100% South African Wool and Mohair, combined withreclaimed vintage yarns and offcuts from VIVIERS’s studio waste, Cape Tweed embodies aharmonious blend of tradition and innovation, masterfully woven by HINTERVELD with Stucken Yarns.

Viviers continues its partnership with master feltmaker and textile sculptor, Stephanie Bentum. Together, they explore the unique sculptural qualities of local Merino wool and Mohair, resulting in original textiles that captivate the shimmering luster and intricate textures of South African wool and Mohair.

Further enriching Viviers’ offerings is the collaboration with Wrapt Knitwear, who creates their artisanal knitwear, characterized by their uncompromised Wool/Mohair/Silk yarn composition and hands-on making, available as Limited Edition Ready-to-Wear pieces.

JEWELRY: Viviers’ partnership with jeweler and goldsmith Kirsten Goss exemplifies a shared love for South Africa’s Karoo desert and natural minerals, like our local crystals, gemstones, and gold. These materials, combined with handmade bronze objects by Lezanne Viviers, are transformed by Kirsten Goss’s studio into pieces that embody the spirit of the desert landscape.

Viviers continues to collaborate with up-cycler Nutcase Studies to create signature chains from reclaimed aluminum can lids, collected from the streets of Johannesburg. VIVIERS further explores Aluminum, as previously started with James Barry and Sanna Swart, as an alternative material in jewelry, as it is very recyclable and equally light to wear. These collaborations underscore Viviers’ dedication to responsible sourcing and production processes.

LEATHER GOODS: Partnerships with the best of South Africa’s artisans such as Cape Cobra Leather Goods, NIC NATE Leather Co, and Mason Owen highlight Viviers’ commitment to exceptional quality and the preservation of South Africa’s craftsmanship, making preference to South Africa’s abundance of raw materials like ostrich leather and Bovine.

Rounding out their collaborative efforts is the partnership with milliner Crystal Birch, preserving the art of hat-making while infusing contemporary flair into each design. Their collaboration for the upcoming Viviers FW24 collection breathes new life into vintage wool and felt bases, creating timeless pieces that resonate with modern sensibilities.

Innovation and sustainability remain at the heart of Viviers’ endeavors, as seen in their partnership with PULP Paperworks, creating luxury paper from collected studio waste.

Additionally, collaborations with musicians such as Alessandro Gigli aim to create immersive soundscapes that evoke the essence of Viviers Fall Winter 2024 collections and exhibitions, in reference to Pocahontas’s ‘Colors of the Wind,’ that every sound has a color and every color has a sound.

Embracing both ancient traditions and futuristic technology, Viviers incorporates advanced techniques like 3D Printing and Digital Printing, partnering with Bunnycorp to conceptualize recyclable prototypes, minimizing waste. In Viviers’ perspective, craft and innovation, guided by the human hand, represent the pinnacle of luxury in this Age of Technology and AI.