When it comes to the designs of Michel Berandi, leather, which is thought to be straight-forward develops a distinctive complexity. It might live up to its rebellious nature, but it also has so much more to offer. Seeing beyond its typical association with immense attitude, Berandi sees a softer side that makes leather more approachable. From Berandi’s use of brown and gray against a predominant black palette to thin body conscious layering pieces that maintain a continous flow, light-weight leather is married to edgy suiting for a modern take on sophistication. Oddly enough, Berandi arrived at this alternative by exploring intense outlets. The spring collection took shape in the midst of chaos. While searching for a starting point, Berandi recalled “listening to a lot of Norwegian Black Metal and Lou Reed’s noise album, Metal Music Machine.” Inspired by the “fantastic theatrical aspect of that unusual music scene,” Berandi decided to adapt and transform the scene’s hardcore attributes into a collection that demonstrates vulnerability. The result is a collection with spirit–it’s exterior may appear strong and confrontational, but upon closer inspection, you notice its fragility.
