image photography: Sayaka Maruyama
ブランド名 Bilitis dix-sept ansは「ビリティス」という17歳の女性がイメージ。特に年齢にこだわっているわけではなく、例えば17歳のころの美しい事象の何にでも感動できる素直な感受性をずっと持ち続けている素敵な大人の女性に着てほしいと思っています!
特に繊細なレース使いが「ビリティス」ブランドのメインの特徴。パリのファッションウィークの合同展示会に参加してこの秋で5シーズン目。アンティークのレースをあたかも現代に再現しているようなフランス製の繊細で素敵なリバーレースが好きで長年使用している。
ヨーロッパのバイヤーやプレスの方達に、同じこれらのレースを使用してもこんなデリケートな世界を表現できるのは日本ブランドの「ビリティス」ならではと良く言っていただく。
同じ素材を使ってもやはりそれぞれ出来てくるものは、自分たちが気づかずとも国民性というかそれぞれ大きく印象が違った世界になるものなのだなと思う。
ヨーロッパのレースメーカーに頼んで納得のいくレースを作り上げ、それを使用した服作りを日本で行い、それをヨーロッパで発表する。不思議な感じがするけど歴史あるところでの評価はとても嬉しい。レース、チュール、リボン、刺繍など好きな素材は永遠のもの。好きな世界はアンティークレース、バレリーナ、透け感のある透明さ、それに上品なセクシーさ。
奇をてらわず、デザインのためのデザインではなく、トレンドに左右される訳でもなくでも細部にこだわった服作り。
あれこれやり過ぎず、出来るだけそぎ落としたエレガンス。
どんな時代でも、自分のファッションに取り入れて楽しんでもらえるような静かで素敵な服作りを日本人ならではの丁寧さで続けたいと思います。
Designer / 星 丈二、瀬下 裕子
Our brand name "Bilitis dix-sept ans" was inspired by the film "Bilitis" which was directed by David Hamilton, a photographer, in the 1970's. Bilitis is the name of a French girl who was the main character of Hamilton's film. In french, the phrase "dix-sept ans" means "17 years old". However, the meaning has nothing to do with our line, for our clothes are not just for teenagers. We love women who are young at heart and who have a passion for the more innocent things in life. For those women, our clothes are for you.
Since we love the more innocent things in life, we specially chose a beautiful, delicate lace called French Leaver Lace for this line. This lace comes mainly from France, but sometimes England. It is comparable to antique lace, which is made by hand.
Every year, twice year, we have the pleasure of attending the big exhibition, 'TRANOI' in Paris during Fashion week. We've been praised for our "Bilitis" line by many European buyers saying that our designs are special. Many European brands use French Leaver lace, but the impression buyers get from the Bilitis collection is that it demonstrates a certain delicate sensibility not often seen in designs today. Preferences differ depending on culture, but with our use of more intricate styles, a true lover of lace would find Bilitis to be an exceptional line.
Sometimes, we import special laces from Europe and incorporate them into our own collections and then we export the finished products back to Europe to be sold in boutiques and department stores. It's an honor to be able to show the world our designs and we are truly humbled by the overwhelming positive responses we receive from European buyers who have a long history in the world of fashion.
We love materials that have endured the test of time such as lace, tulle, ribbon and embroidery. The place in which we find pleasure in, is a world that is full of antique laces, ballerinas, romanticism, not too sweet, but with an elegant sensuality about it.
We create for the simple pleasure of just making art. Delicate workmanship is a key part of our designing process where we create elegant, yet simple, fashions.
We hope to continue making designs that will inspire others to create their own styles, and hopefully, help them find a new love for the more innocent things in life.
Designer : George Hoshi, Yuko Seshimo
(Translation : Sarah_J Jones)