Roland Mouret

Roland Mouret (born 27 August 1961)[1] is a French fashion designer.

Roland Mouret
Born (1961-08-27) 27 August 1961
Lourdes, France
OccupationFashion designer

Training and early career

Mouret was born in Lourdes, France. His fashion training consisted of three months in a Parisian fashion college in 1979.[2] In the 1980s, Mouret worked as creative director with Gai Pied Hebdo, a Paris-based gay publication, and was an Act Up activist. When he left school to begin designing, he lacked skill in garment construction yet had "a native awareness of sensuality" that allowed him to create "irresistible" clothing.[2] Sharai and André Meyers bought his line in 1998.[2] After seven years and a move to New York, Mouret introduced his Galaxy dress in his Spring 2006 collection.[2] Called the "dress of the season" by many,[3][4][5][6][7] its ubiquity was such that Vogue magazine would later write that "for weeks you [couldn't] open a newspaper or magazine without seeing another young Hollywood A-lister wearing" it.[2] Less than two months after the dress's runway debut, Mouret split with his backers in a move that shocked the fashion world.[2][8] Mouret cited "managerial differences",[9] but neither he nor the Meyerses has ever elaborated on the cause of the break-up.[2]

Hiatus and return to fashion

After Mouret left his label, he took a two-year hiatus.[2] He found a new backer in Simon Fuller and launched a comeback under the name RM by the designer Roland Mouret.[2] (His previous backers had retained the rights to the Roland Mouret brand.[2]) Under the new partnership, Mouret owns 50% of the business and is allowed creative freedom.[10] Before the bona fide launch of his new line, Mouret undertook small design engagements to pique public interest.[2] He partnered with Bergdorf Goodman for a one-time-only consignment in which he personally signed each of the 36 dresses.[2] He escorted Jacquetta Wheeler to the Met Costume Institute ball; she wore a long version of the Bergdorf dress.[2] Mouret also designed a limited-edition dress line for the Gap.[2]

The launch of RM by the designer Roland Mouret was designed as a global interactive event.[2] Its inaugural fashion show was held on 4 July 2007 in Paris and featured 21 "easy-chic", geometric dresses.[2] The next day, the show was available on the internet, and consumers could pre-order the garments on a website. As Mouret explained to Vogue, "[Women] see shows the day after they happen. Why should they have to wait?"[2] The collection was an enormous success, with some pieces selling out within hours.[2]

Mouret bought back the rights to his own name on 9 September 2010, with plans to open his first standalone store, on Carlos Place opposite the Connaught in London by 2011.[11] The new premises includes two floors of retails space for Mouret's womenswear, menswear, atelier, design workshops and sales showroom.[12] It is an historic couture setting, having formerly been the showroom of two Incorporated Society of London Fashion Designers members – Michael of Carlos Place and Peter Russell.[13][14]

References
  1. Armstrong, Lisa. "How a pop guru and a fashion darling will bring the catwalk into your home". The Times (6 September 2006).
  2. Mower, Sarah. "A New Curve". Vogue (October 2007).
  3. "Roland Mouret's sell-out dress". Marieclaire.com (27 November 2007). ("Dress of the season.")
  4. King, Emily. "Design 2005: From newspapers to dresses, the design highlights of the last year". Frieze magazine (January–February 2006). ("Most desired dress of the season".)
  5. Akbar, Arifa. "Roland Mouret, designer of the 'Galaxy' dress, quits job". The Independent (27 October 2005). ("'Must-have' dress of the season".)
  6. Freeman, Hadley. "How not to wear That Dress". The Guardian (15 December 2005). ("Dress of the year", "That Dress".)
  7. Coulson, Claire. "Roland Mouret goes into business with Spice Girls founder". The Telegraph (9 June 2006). ("The most recognisable dress of the last decade".)
  8. Roland Mouret Quits
  9. Akbar, Arifa. "Roland Mouret, designer of the 'Galaxy' dress, quits job". The Independent (27 October 2005).
  10. "Breaking News: Roland Mouret's Announcement". Archived from the original on 2 February 2009. Retrieved 20 September 2011.
  11. "Roland Mouret Returns". Archived from the original on 12 September 2010. Retrieved 20 September 2011.
  12. Roland Mouret London Flagship Store Launch
  13. Bowles, Hamish (20 February 2011). "Roland Mouret: House Proud". Vogue. Archived from the original on 24 December 2011. Retrieved 18 August 2014.
  14. staff (25 June 1953). "Top-flight designer coming to Australia". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 13 August 2014.
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