FASHION NETWORK: Habile brings the work jacket back into fashion

14/10/2018 by Fashion network

"It was by observing a return to manual trades that we had the idea of bringing the work garment back to the present day." With these words, Eric Fontanini explains the genesis of the brand he co-created with Camille Andrieux. Named Habile, it focuses on five pieces — a boilersuit (called a cotte, its original name), a bandana, a jacket, a pouch and an apron — all made from a cotton twill, blue, naturally. "In these trades where work and passion blur into one, where you never stop from the moment you wake up to the end of the day, we wanted to offer a functional garment that you're proud to wear."

For this first capsule entitled "Temps 1", the duo called on illustrator Imed Gharzouli to design a motif featuring two hands. It is printed on the reverse of every piece presented by Camille Andrieux and Eric Fontanini. These reversible garments retail between €29 and €235 on the brand's website or at Le Consulat, in the 14th arrondissement, where Habile set up a pop-up store open until 12 October.

The designers have also begun approaching multi-brand stores to carry their collections. They have identified around ten where they believe their pieces could meet customer demand. To present their work to buyers, Camille Andrieux and Eric Fontanini will hold a showroom from January 17 to 19 at the Caffarelli studio, 8 rue Caffarelli in the Marais. In parallel, the entrepreneurs have also launched a section dedicated to professionals on their website, where businesses can submit specific requests to customise Habile workwear with their own name.

Camille Andrieux and Eric Fontanini are no strangers to collaboration. The stylist, who spent over four years working on the knitwear and jersey division at Iro among other projects, co-founded the consultancy Know-How Consulting with the chef in 2016. Their clients include IKKS, Balibaris, Maison Standards and Ana Heart.