Founded in 2010 by Laurence Chauvin-Buthaud, LAURENCEAIRLINE is a menswear label and conscious project based between Abidjan and Paris. Laurence Chauvin-Buthaud is also one of the talents of Studio Africa, celebrating and promoting creativity in Africa. 

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http://www.laurenceairline.com/brand.htm

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LaurenceAirline brings together a path between cultures drawing contemporary timeless basic silhouettes with deep African roots. Re-imagining the African continent’s cultural inheritance in a way that fashion and ethnic cultures can successfully collaborate to create possibilities for the future is the driving force behind LaurenceAirline. The entire line is made in accordance with conscious and sustainable manufacturing practices in LaurenceAirline’s workshop in Ivory Coast, where local people are trained to produce high quality garments following international standard. Valuing bold aesthetics and sustainable development, the label merges creativity coming from Africa with the sophisticated standards of modern societal way of life. In that frame, worldwide sold LaurenceAirline’s collections help build Africa’s modern reality into the international fashion scene.

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COLLECTION SS13

… and what is Koutoukou?

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With typical panache, LaurenceAirline has named her third collection after a tropical drink from the Ivory Coast, Koutoukou.

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LaurenceAirline has also, once again, created marvellous pieces out of Wax Cotton. This season it’s festooned with fan patterns, baroque Moroccan frescoes and Japanese etchings . These two exquisite fabrics come together in an explosion of complementary hues. She plays with the contrasts and connections between the textures, setting off the sheen of the Bazin against the cotton poplins and colourful matt wax prints. Added to the mix are the perfectly mastered subtleties of LaurenceAirline, such as the vintage style yokes with a dog wallpaper pattern sewn into the shirts and the cornelian embroidery details which embellish the ‘Face’ shirt. The designer hasn’t forgotten her little nod to women’s wear and over-sized shirts with multi-coloured cut-outs complete the collection. These are accompanied by a selection of high-waisted shorts and cigarette trousers, available in block coloured Bazin and printed Wax. Combining artisanal techniques with contemporary shapes, this third springtime collection is imbued with a variety of favourite motifs. With a fresh, nonchalant and urban silhouette this is ready-to-wear for the zeitgeist man.

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Click on an image to scroll through the gallery

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From her workshop base in Abidjan, the Laurenceairline collection is now entirely manufactured by local workers that Laurence has trained up.

“I think about Africa and I see people that have a lot of talent but they don’t have the opportunity to learn properly some stuff and I also came from the same background. I came to Africa and I just knew a few things but for them it’s amazing things and I really feel that what I know can help. I really feel that altogether we make something good. That makes me feel alive and makes me feel that I would love to continue.”.

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What’s your…

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 BIGGEST INSPIRATION?

“I am inspired by people living in their clothes rather than a constructed fashion influence. It is the attitude and spirit that an individual gives a garment through the way that they wear it.”

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DREAM CREATIVE PROJECT?

“Create a cultural centre where people from different backgrounds and with different skills can come together to exchange ideas.”

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COTE D’IVOIRE’S BEST-KEPT SECRET?

“Man is a village in the north of the Cote d’Ivoire that is definitely worth a visit. There is a beautiful tradition in handcraft and the town is in the middle of the forest, with a magical story, incredible waterfalls and mountains.”