Gabriella Cortese, Founder and Creative Director of ANTIK BATIK, unveils the first men’s collection

- For its first men’s Spring/Summer 2024 collection, Antik Batik’s bohemian and romantic spirit enters through the threshold of the house with grace and poise, finding its rightful place on 19, Rue des Minimes, behind the very Parisian Place des Vosges. This is a collection that embraces the very essence of Gabriella Cortese’s design ethos, amalgamating the label’s timeless artistic aesthetic and travel-inspired codes, with the exquisite symbiosis of a dancer and his clothes.

She draws inspiration from Germain Louvet, a star dancer at the Paris Opera, who so becomes the face to embody her thesis. Effortlessly breathing life into classic and contemporary realms, Louvet is an artist who sheds the confines of technique to convey pure emotion through his work. He is a man in perpetual motion, an attentive observer who journeys from New York, Milan and Tokyo. From stage attire to everyday garments, he appreciates the intricate details of the designs that accompany him, for a dancers’ body must never be bound or hindered. A devoted practitioner of classical dance, Gabriella Cortese intimately understands the profound kinship between the body and attire, always cherishing the notion of liberated movement. To this end, embroidered, printed and hand-weaved shirts and vests are designed to effortlessly frame the silhouette, while shorts and trousers exude an elegant nonchalance. Delicate hues and ethereal prints traverse from pale grey to lavender, from violet to purple.

Summer’s immaculate wardrobe draws from the shorts of sun-kissed surfers, the charm of Cuban shirts, the allure of Indian kurtas and the elegance of Chinese fishermen pants. As ever, Cortese’s voyages across the world are a nourishing source of inspiration that build the foundation of Antik Batik’s 31-year-old authentically escapist, dandy aesthetic. This complete ensemble seamlessly adapts to every corner of the world – from sandy shores to the bustling arteries of vibrant metropolises, the metaphorical rehearsal room and the stage – presenting an unequivocally modern wardrobe: for travel, for movement, for dreaming, forlife.

The Men's Spring/Summer 2024 Collection will be available from February 2024 on www.antikbatik.com, at the Antik Batik boutique (19 Rue des Minimes in Le Marais), at selected wholesalers and department stores.