What does a typical day look like for you ? Get up at 6:30 am, a bit of gym and yoga, otherwise I go out for a run for 1 hour, breakfast with my daughter, then I leave with her and arrive at 8 am at the studio which is at the foot of Montparnasse. It is located in a green and historic dead end of the neighborhood where Picasso and Modigliani were regulars. There is no real routine. The days follow the projects in progress. There is no agenda especially in winter when the daylight is weak, I can draw or paint in the morning, a furniture project or an artistic series and in the afternoon have appointments, presentations to organize, project developments, emails. I try as much as possible to alternate these hours of creation with those where they are developed whether with other people or alone. From spring, they follow the intensity and presence of the sun in the studio. Drawing comes naturally. I usually leave the studio around 6:30-7pm. At the end of the evening, I start drawing again when my iPhone and emails are off, so I can focus only on my line and projects. Otherwise, I read before falling asleep. Words soothe me.
What are you looking for in a piece of clothing ? What are your style inspirations ? For everyday wear, I look for elegance without being assertive. A casual and simple style. The quality of design and manufacturing is just as important. This is what I appreciate in Bonne Facture silhouettes. Clothing has a practical or stylish role in turn. Practicing different sports has given me a very sharp eye for the effectiveness of the technical clothing that I will choose for a particular discipline. Whether it’s the thickness of a wetsuit, the placement of a seam or a zipper on a ski jacket, pockets for a running outfit, the quality of a material depending on the weather. For a long time, I had a skater style, fairly loose pants and t-shirts and flat-soled shoes. With age, I kept this outfit but made it more stripped down, fairly basic, almost normcore sometimes, jeans, a pair of Chuck Taylor converse and a white or grey mottled t-shirt that’s closer to the body. From there, I’m going to vary my silhouette and my style. Sweaters and coats take on a certain importance because they complete a style. Shoes play an important role because they determine the look, literally and figuratively. I have to feel good and confident in my clothes. Not be in a fashion, in an ephemeral movement to follow. I don’t know how to disguise myself. Growing up with sisters and a mother who were passionate about fashion, women's magazines had a strong impact on my outlook. I'm also talking about the 90s when there was a golden age of designers. Christophe Lemaire and Dries Van Noten are among the designers I still follow, even if it doesn't suit me at all. I love their poetry. A rare romanticism.
How important do you attribute to qualify, traceability and/or craftsmanchip in you your decision-making process ? The design and manufacturing process is becoming increasingly important in my choices, in my daily life, whether it's for my food, my clothes or in my projects. It's not a constraint but a lever for creation. Distribution is also important. It would be cynical to order a Patagonia cap on Amazon. Craftsmanship has always been part of my life. Handwork will always fascinate me, whether it's a cabinetmaker or a tailor.
Where can we discover your work ? What's your latest news ? There is a website fredericforest.com on which we have set up original works that can be ordered directly. My Instagram account @fredericforest is for everyday life in the workshop and outside. It's quite easy to show work in progress or completed. Following many