Sophie Theallet’s signature is bohemian luxe seen through the eyes of a sophisticated couturier. Like Sophie herself, her clothes have a strong French accent, but exude a freedom of spirit that transcends all borders. She designs luxury clothing with a sense of depth. Every stitch has been precisely executed and every detail has a meaning.
Sophie grew up in the picturesque mountain town Bagnéres de Bigorre on France’s South West coast. As the only girl with five brothers, she was a tomboy but she also dreamt of princesses in beautiful gowns. She started to make clothes for her dolls when she was eight years old. When she reached her teens, Sophie’s fashion influences changed from Cinderella to Vivienne Westwood. During a holiday trip to London she discovered the city’s vibrant club scene and fell in love with punk rock. Music and fashion have been intimately connected for her ever since.
At the age of 18, Sophie moved to Paris to attend the famous fashion design school Studio Bercot. Upon her graduation, she received a National Young Designer Award and was commissioned to design her own collection for the prestigious Parisian department store Le Printemps. The venture was a great success and the clothes quickly sold out. But, feeling that she needed a stronger fashion foundation, Sophie opted to work for Jean-Paul Gaultier instead of continuing with her own label. A few years later she moved on to Azzedine Alaïa where she would come to truly mature as a designer. During her ten years as Alaïa’s right hand woman, Sophie immersed herself completely in the world of couture. She worked on the main collection as well as accessories and knitwear, traveled constantly, absorbed fashion history and perfected her fitting and cutting skills.
After moving to New York, Sophie continued to work with Alaïa on a part-time basis, while also freelancing for other fashion labels. In the spring of 2005, she launched the small and exclusive resort collection Motu Tane with the help of her friend Francois Nars, the make-up artist. The line was named after Nars’ private Tahitian island where Sophie had spent several blissful weeks the previous year. The collection’s beauty, ease and sensuality, combined with its rare sense of quality and craft, made it one of the most talked about debuts of that year. Motu Tane quickly gained a reputation as one of the most desirable labels in high-end fashion and was sold in the world’s most prestigious stores.
Her designs have an extremely rare quality: they are both unique and universal. Her work is unlike any other fashion label, yet it has a tremendous appeal to women of all ages. She is an exceptionally gifted person who makes exceptional and personal clothes.
In just a few seasons, Sophie Theallet has established herself among fashion insiders as a unique voice in luxury womenswear. Her collection is carried by the most prestigious stores and has been acclaimed by Top Editors, Journalists and Magazines. Her signature easy elegance and classic femininity is rendered in exquisite silhouettes and beautifully hand-finished techniques. Now working out of her own small atelier in New York, her collection merges her couture background with the freedom and energy of New York City.
(read less)Sophie Theallet’s signature is bohemian luxe seen through the eyes of a sophisticated couturier. Like Sophie herself, her clothes have a strong French accent, but exude a freedom of spirit that transcends all borders. She designs luxury clothing with a sense of depth. Every stitch has been precisely executed and every detail has a meaning.
Sophie grew up in the picturesque mountain town Bagnéres de Bigorre on France’s South West coast. As the only girl with five brothers, she was a tomboy but...
(read more)
