Paris-born fashion designer Joseph Alturzarra is a favorite among celebrities, royals, and powerful woman around the world. His well-known fans include: Meghan Markel, Gigi Hadid, Brigitte Macron, Beyonce, Queen Raina and many others. Joseph Altuzarra, attracts this loyal and extensive following because he designs clothes that make women look and feel confident and attractive.
Attending a private fashion show at his flagship New York City store, Altuzarra presented his just off the runway, Paris Fashion Week Fall/Winter 2022 collection and shared his Spring collection favorites. I saw his allure first-hand. Surrounded by his creations and team, Joseph Altuzarra described his personal journey and artistic process. He spoke of supporting craft communities and responding to the need for sustainability in the fashion industry. My appreciation for his designs went from visual to emotional.
Early Career
After attending Parsons School of Design, Joseph started his career in New York interning for Marc Jacobs followed by his post at Proenza Schouer. Looking to further expand his craft, he apprenticed with pattern-maker Nicolas Coito, former head of Rochas. Afterwards, he returned to Paris, working at Givenchy for Riccardo Tisci. He ventured out on his own in 2008 launching his first collection.
Creative Process and Sustainability
When asked about how he comes up with ideas for his collections, he said it is not just one thing. For example, his inspiration can come from watching a movie, viewing a painting, or reading a book. That inspiration is combined with his thoughts on how his customers live. Joseph and his team further expands on his underlying concept, researching and working with local artisans to breath life into cloth. Joseph Altuzarra believes that designers should always innovate and not be followers.
Responding to the dialogue on sustainability in fashion, he was determined to address the matter by repurposing silk dead stock (fabrics from past seasons) to make new creations. Exchanging various ideas on how this would work, his knitwear designer shredded the silk cloth to make filaments of yarn. Then, the knitting team wove the yarn together. The result is beautiful, one-of-a-kind, knitwear creations.
The Collection
Altuzarra’s Spring collection reflects a magical relationship with nature. It is bidding farewell to winter and a reflection of hope and joy in Spring. Spring flower patterns are created by rolling fabric on actual flowers. Other looks include cashmere or poplin dresses combined with hand crocheted tops. The result of this combination is a look that appears effortless but has pop and polish. Dresses can go from casual to elegant.
Altuzarra’s just off the Paris runway, Fall/Winter 2022 collection represents a mixture of nature and mythology with mysteries of the deep sea. It is a mood of fishermen and mermaids.
Reflecting this mood, looks of the sailor include leather jackets, peacoats, wide-leg pleated pants and striped sweaters. Creating the feel of the ocean, artisans stitched shell motifs into patchwork panels and then (like creating a quilt) the panels were reconstructed into fabrics. Large glittering “scales” (sequins) are added to cashmere to produce the mermaid look.
Walking around Joseph Altuzarra’s Madison Avenue flagship store, post show, it is clear that each piece of clothing is a beautiful work of art. It is a reflection of magic, strength and artisan inspiration.
