Stéphane Ashpool’s decision to show his spring collection on a group of young teens was anything but a gimmick. The founder of the streetwear brand, whose fans include A$AP Rocky and Rihanna, has been coaching the neighborhood kids’ basketball team for a year and forged a close bond with the youngsters, as a short film screened before the presentation attested.
Childhood was also the theme of the lineup, which featured paint patterns he created with his protégés. A cream jacket drizzled with color was layered over a turquoise silk tunic in a marble motif and a luxed-up burgundy vest and track pants. A baby pink buttonless mohair jacket, meanwhile, was paired with light blue basketball shorts.
The use of pastel colors and hand-painted designs made for an upbeat yet surprisingly elegant take on athleticwear. “I researched the colors that most affect newborns,” said the designer, who is one of five finalists for the ANDAM prize and who just unveiled another collaboration with Nike. “I’m very interested in the passage of time.”
He noted the evening marked an important transition for his young models, who will be starting high school in the fall. As the crowd in the courtyard of Ashpool’s former school whooped and cheered, it felt like Pigalle is also ready to graduate to the next level.