FOR ITS Spring/Summer 2019 collection, Longchamp goes on a gender-bender and takes its womenswear collection’s cues from, well, men.
Its ready-to-wear collection, which unfortunately isn’t available in the Philippines (but you can get the pieces in Hong Kong), uses masculine cuts in jackets, but pairs them with delicate feminine a-line dresses. The silhouette is a reflection of the relaxed, breathing lines that have begun to pop up in runways increasingly since 2013.
As for accessories, Longchamp’s bread and butter in the country, the aggressive Amazone bag has been interpreted in textured leather, from black patent to a python-like skin, with golden embroidery and angry black chains. Some, meanwhile, take a quirky tone with mandala patterns, while some are definitely ladylike, in red with quilting. The Amazone also takes a cue from the male dandies in the ready-to-wear collection, with a pattern seemingly inspired by trunks and silk ties. The patterns are also included in the brand’s most recognizable bag, the Le Pliage. A relatively new bag, the Roseau, is relaxed but proper, done in leather with a small silver peg as a closure.
Longchamp is one of the more affordable bags on the fashion spectrum, where bags can be found for about P8,000. This usually begins a hunt for more expensive bags, but in the meantime, the college kids and yuppies who sling the bag on their shoulders and arms make for an interesting site: the Paris runways, literally on the streets.
Dina Tantoco, Marketing and Communications Head for Rustan’s said, “The brand offers a wide range of styles that are accessible to different preferences and markets. The classic and favorite Le Pliage collection is a more accessible option for many, but one can also level up and opt for the iconic and premium styles of Longchamp that you see on the runway. Like the Longchamp Amazone, a quality leather handbag which is targeted to a different, more specific customer.
“Nowadays, exclusivity is not so much a priority when fashion is democratized. A heritage brand like Longchamp offers fine craftsmanship, stylish, and functional pieces, and these are the reasons why customers patronize it and aspire to own one.”
Longchamp is distributed in the Philippines by the SSI Group, and is available in boutiques and Rustan’s stores.
As for Rustan’s, Ms. Tantoco said, “We have exciting plans for the first and second floors of Rustan’s Makati. We can’t wait to roll it out this 2019.” — JLG
