From Brancusi to Baker: where spirit and structure meet
Paris, January 28, 2025 — Within the sacred rhythm of Haute Couture Week, Stéphane Rolland unveiled a collection entitled Origines. From Brancusi to Baker — a dialogue between two symbolic forces: the free and sensual energy of Josephine Baker, and the abstract, sculptural purity of Constantin Brancusi.
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A living homage, two voices entwined
Baker’s presence is felt in the fluidity, in the sensual force of the body in motion. Brancusi’s spirit appears in the sculpted lines, in the refined geometry.
Together, they form a language that doesn’t shout, but breathes.
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Fabric & movement: the essence of gesture
Black gazar tuxedos and ebony satin,
White crepe cape-dresses with precise embroidery,
Layered organza tulles, and burnt-plume appliqués —
Each piece lives between sculpture and movement.
Between weight and air.
Touches of gold and silver bring balance, not opulence. The materials don’t overwhelm — they reveal.
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Meaning beyond form
The show wasn’t only aesthetic — it was also philanthropic: 700 seats were sold to benefit the Fondation des Hôpitaux and support adolescents in Blois.
A gesture echoing Josephine Baker’s own legacy of generosity and courage.
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A sustained, contemplative rhythm
What moved me most was not a single dress, but the collection’s inner rhythm.
Rolland’s voice is felt in the restraint, in the depth.
These silhouettes don’t scream or provoke — they stand, calmly and clearly.
And in this space between stillness and movement, something powerful appears.
Not noise. Not trend. But presence.
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My impression
What I felt was a dialogue between memory and invention:
Memory, through the echo of Baker and Brancusi.
Invention, through lines that belong to the now.
It’s couture as performance.
It asks without insisting.
It’s not here to dazzle. It’s here to speak in silence.
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In conclusion:
With Origines, Stéphane Rolland offers a collection of quiet power.
A reminder that Haute Couture, when true, can still be a manifesto —
not to dominate, but to connect, to elevate, to endure.
CHIKH Larbi, for www.the-8th-art.com
Crédit photo: FHCM.
