There’s something I particularly love about working with clothes that have already lived a life. A texture that has already been worn, a material that has already been handled, a cut that existed long before it found its way into my hands. I find there’s a particular beauty in everything that comes with a second life. That is exactly what lies at the heart of my new collection, UPTHRIFTED.
This collection was born through M3 Montréal, a well-established event within Montréal’s menswear scene, which I had the opportunity to take part in. The timing was quite particular for me, as I had just put an enormous amount of energy into a collection entirely focused on womenswear for Festival MAD. And suddenly, here I was, diving into a new, primarily menswear project with an entirely new collection to build. Rather than starting completely from scratch, I decided to do what I’ve been doing for a long time: look at what I already have in front of me and see how far I can take it.
I went through my own archives, pulled out older Guillaum Chaigne pieces and some silhouettes I wanted to reinvent, while also developing new cuts. I stayed true to my own guidelines: black, oversized volumes, a streetwear attitude, and that desire to create clothes that have a presence. But I also started looking through thrift stores, searching for interesting textures, materials, details and cuts that could become something else.
This is where UPTHRIFTED really found its meaning. Pieces that already had a history were deconstructed, mixed with other materials and reintroduced into new creations. Some of the pieces in this collection are therefore made from garments that were never meant to become what they are today. And that is precisely what interests me.
For me, this approach goes much further than simply creating a collection with second-hand clothing. It connects directly to the values I want to defend with Guillaum Chaigne: more conscious production, material recycling, craftsmanship, and an approach that seeks to move away from the constant waste of the fashion industry. In a system where fast fashion and ultra-fast fashion constantly push us to consume faster and throw things away just as quickly, I want to slow down. To look differently at what already exists.
Because behind every garment, there is material, time and human labour. Even when a garment comes from industrial production, it was still made by human hands. I want to honour that. To me, respecting a garment also means recognizing that it required resources and labour before it ever reached our hands.
After MUSE, a collection that explored love and passion, UPTHRIFTED ultimately continues that same reflection, but through another form of love: the love of craft.
Because at the end of the day, I believe that creating something new doesn’t always mean starting with something new.
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