Who is Alexandre Mattiussi? He is the creator of the French brand AMI, who drew inspiration while learning from the best at the fashion houses of Dior, Givenchy, and Marc Jacobs. These were undoubtedly fruitful lessons! We present a closer look at the brilliant designer's profile.
Mattiussi is a graduate of the Duperré School of Applied Arts in Paris. He started his career in men's fashion designing at Dior Homme and continued at Givenchy, where he led a team of menswear designers before Riccardo Tisci arrived. He also worked for Marc Jacobs. However, working for someone else did not fully satisfy him - he had an artistic vision of fashion that he wanted to realize under his own name.
Art Twice Over
Alexandre Mattiussi founded the AMI brand in 2011, nine years after closing his previous business in 2002. After meeting with Marc Jacobs's CEO, Bertrand Stalla Bourdillon, Mattiussi was convinced of the need for investment and a strong team to support him, giving AMI a second chance.
The investors were convinced to reopen the business a second time. The French brand immediately caught the attention of editors and quickly became a favorite of buyers. His first collection in 2011 was ordered by Mark Lee, the manager of the American chain of department stores, Barneys New York. The risk was worth it. Today, the brand has over 300 distributors, including such luxury department stores as Selfridges, 10 Corso Como and Saks Fifth Avenue.
Ami Alexandre Mattiussi
Cotton shirt
PERMANENT COLLECTION
Ami Alexandre Mattiussi
High waist trousers
Ami Alexandre Mattiussi
Wool coat
Alexandre Mattiussi also runs his own boutiques in Paris, Tokyo, London and Hong Kong. In 2013, he received the prestigious French ANDAM award, funded by the Ministry of Culture and Defi Mode fashion organization, and currently presents his collections during Paris Men's Fashion Week.
Alexandre Mattiussi - for AMI customers
The principle that guided Mattiussi when setting up AMI was that he would dress his friends from the artistic bohemia. The target group of Mattiussi's customers can therefore identify with the brand's founder in this way. The brand does not engage in competition with its former employers. Alexandre creates designs that stick to classic forms, but at the same time have avant-garde, original details. All this, the designer proposes at reasonable prices.
AMI clothes are especially loved by fans of classics with a discreet but noticeable modern twist. Every season, the sale of the brand's clothes increases by at least 50 percent, and new sales points are regularly created. Currently, there are over three hundred of them, including three in Paris and one in Tokyo.
Ami Alexandre Mattiussi
Houndstooth blazer
Ami Alexandre Mattiussi
Pleat-front trousers
Ami Alexandre Mattiussi
Cotton socks
AMI's clothing style combines artistic bohemia (frills, houndstooth, hats, scarves, combination of different textures), elements of Parisian elegance (blazers, suits, and jackets), and Japanese minimalism and avant-garde (creative, unconventional solutions in cuts and oversized). The designer uses a sparing palette of basic colors: black, white, cream, gray, although there are also details in red or yellow.
Alexandre Mattiussi: Men's Clothing for... Women
Alexandre Mattiussi is primarily associated with men's clothing, but this has changed. In January 2018, the brand announced that for the autumn-winter 2018 season it would introduce "men's clothing for women". "I created AMI with the idea of designing clothes for my friends, both men and women, so I've always imagined that my clothes would be universal," Mattiussi told Business of Fashion.
As he announced, so he did. Despite the fact that the brand's clothes are informally divided into male and female on its official website and online store Vitkac.com, they can really be worn by anyone. Examples include paper bag type pants, inspired by men's trousers from the 1930s, 7/8 trousers, or shirts with a jabot. Hats and scarves are also unisex.
Alexandre Mattiussi has sailed into the wide waters of fashion, but as a brand, it remains a niche brand with friendly prices - especially during sales. At the same time, its quality does not lag behind the famous predecessors, with whom the designer has learned. If you are close to the idea of unisex clothing, be sure to pay attention to this creator and his proposals.
