Bunker Office, by Central Saint Martins designer Maximilien Remondière, earned him Emerging Fashion Designer of the Year at the 2018 International Design Awards, as well as Gold in men’s avant-garde and Gold in Garment Concepts. The name describes his way of working: making his own garments and developing designs in near isolation.
That solitude, he explains, gave him confidence to work from scratch across every stage of design and production. The result is a collection he calls secretive and enigmatic, focused on function and structure: utilitarian coats, quilted vests with high funnel necks and belted outerwear, where detail is held in balance with a minimalism informed by his technical studies.
Much is said about collaboration in fashion; Bunker Office is a reminder that a strong point of view can also come from concentration and self-reliance. Its interest lies in how closely the clothes mirror the conditions in which they were made: protective, practical and quietly guarded.
Official award record: International Design Awards winners
Sometimes a clear idea needs a closed door.
International Design Awards, 2018 — Emerging Fashion Designer of the Year