Although we’re still in the midst of winter in Australia, homegrown brand Aje is looking towards warmer days with its new Spring 2022 collection. Titled ‘Provenance’, the collection draws from the inimitably effortless glamour and honeyed light of the south of France, epitomised by La Colombe d’Or or ‘The Golden Dove’.
Founded in 1931 by Paul Roux and his wife Baptistine in Saint Paul de Vence on the French Riviera, the eclectic hotel represented a home away from home for some of the most revered and renowned artists, writers, and actors of the 20th century; among them, Picasso, Matisse, and Miró, as well as feminist philosopher Simone de Beauvoir and Hollywood icon Bridgitte Bardot. Over time, the veritable melting pot of creatives contributed major works of art that are displayed to this day, with the golden light of Provence said to have played an instrumental role in inspiring the artists in residence to view colour in a new way.
The mid-20th century represented a golden era for art and cinema, with the two colliding at La Colombe D’Or, in part due to its proximity to Cannes.
Edwina Forest and Adrian Norris, co-creative directors at Aje, sought to explore the unique pull certain locations have for creatives. The resultant collection, Provenance, explores new silhouettes and proportions while embodying the Aje DNA. The comingling of volume and structure is further delved into through evolved pleating, deconstructed corsetry, braiding, and the signature Aje voluminous sleeves. Additionally, the Australian brand has collaborated with multidisciplinary artist Chanel Tobler on a statement print featured throughout the collection. The print infuses vibrant pops of colour with a palette of soft pastels, with florals meeting abstract lines.
The first drop of the Provenance collection is available via the Aje webstore.
Words by Arabella Johnson
