Sébastien, what is the general idea behind this capsule collection?
"To synthesize 10 years of Hast , the story had to start with formal shirts , continue with casual shirts and then open up to the rest of the wardrobe with work jackets , pants , sweaters , t-shirts , accessories , etc. Ultimately, this wardrobe corresponds to that of everyone; and the challenge for me was to consolidate and accentuate this balance in the Hast proposition. This is typically what we tried to do in the 10-year capsule, and that's really how I approached it. I asked myself what were the ten fundamental pieces with which it was possible to have fun, combinable at will while having something coherent that corresponds to the daily life of the greatest number. The idea was really to be as fair as possible in terms of adaptability and versatility , without falling into extravagance. It may seem simple, but it is an approach that requires extreme rigor.
“The story begins with shirts,” as you say, and we notice that they are widely represented in this collection. Why?
"Of the ten pieces in the collection , five are actually shirts . Why? Simply because they are the beating heart of the brand . In addition, it is a garment with which you can go towards something very chic as well as very casual . The shirt allows that: a material , a cut , a collar makes it swing from one side to the other, which is extremely interesting. Typically, the denim model and the merino wool one have almost nothing in common apart from the essential: they are shirts!"
As a stylist, what attracted you most when imagining this anniversary capsule?
"The unique possibility, enabled by Hast's economic model, to make materials that are usually unobtainable in ready-to-wear accessible . By punctually arranging our classic recipe (no interries and a fair margin) with exceptional ingredients , we have the privilege of offering luxurious materials usually reserved for the big Houses for the occasion. It's an extraordinary opportunity, both for a stylist and for the brand's customers."
Without revealing your secrets to us, can you tell us what the common thread is in this collection?
" The 50s and 60s inspirations are very present , but there is not the slightest ambition of "replica" or "revival". I like this aesthetic from another time and it is obvious that it infuses the entire collection, but we must not see any nostalgia or backwardness in it. On the contrary, I rather perceive these influences as the link between tradition and modernity . Basically, it is really a fake 50s-60s; a 50s-60s treated to be timeless and bring the little touch of refinement that makes the charm of the capsule. It is also this free interpretation that amalgamates casual and formal trends: to make the splits between a work jacket and a refined shirt, it was necessary to have connecting elements that the retro aesthetic of the mid-20th century readily provides. Finally, these characteristic elements of a formalism in the process of emancipation make it possible to bridge the gap between elegance and relaxation and to structure the collection so that the pieces respond harmoniously to each other. This coherence, in my opinion, is found in the silhouettes that blend easily with each other despite the differences in register.
Could you give us an example?
“Once again, it’s about making details or volumes accessible that are no longer necessarily present on the market. Subtleties that you would rather find second-hand or on the side of expensive “niche” brands. The popover collar of the merino shirt , the reissued denim of the western shirt , the lapel of the double-breasted jacket or the button-down of the 1960 oxford are perfect examples: we took them out of the past to put them at the service of contemporary elegance , and not just out of love for clothing archaeology. They all breathe the same retro delicacy that sets the tempo of this collection. Which gives it its touch. Its signature.”
The pieces in the collection are only available in one color each. How did you determine the capsule’s color palette to find the right balance?
"Simply by placing small pieces of material next to each other and then adjusting to find harmony . In this case, working with exceptional natural materials offers sublime colors , which makes the work easier. I am thinking in particular of the merino whose green is really unique , the oxford whose blue stripe is particularly bright, the very authentic denim of the western or the almost "taupe" beige of the pants. The nobility of the material and the dye practiced are thus combined with a work of association that your servant tried to do well. That said, I also stuck to a principle of reality without venturing towards things that are too extravagant. I wanted to remain true and realistic in relation to the overall desires of men."
About color, is the red of the painter's jacket a nod to that of the brand?
“It could have been… but not really! Honestly, we wanted a different denim and luckily this is the most beautiful one we found in deadstock at Nona Source. We were looking for structure and lightness , and this one was perfect. It just so happens to be red, so much the better!”
In the middle of this capsule collection in the form of a tribute to clothing, the introduction of a tie is a strong choice. Can you tell us about it?
"That's right. It's a bit of the extravaganza touch of the collection with its accessory character and strong colors - once again enhanced by a very luxurious silk . However, it has the potential to be combined with (almost) all the other pieces in the capsule, which makes it a great companion to enhance an outfit and add a touch of personality ."
It was impossible not to ask you this question: what is your favorite piece?
"The most personal is probably the double-breasted jacket because I concentrated a lot of inspirations in a single piece . Historical inspirations, first of all, with this lapel inherited from a suit of Prince Philip (at the time); but also personal inspirations like the interior strap that I borrowed from a Japanese bespoke jacket from my own collection. Finally, I put a lot of heart and influences into a well-known and recognized piece with which it is relatively difficult to innovate. Without distorting it, since it remains a navy double-breasted jacket , I wanted to inject an extra soul that makes it - to my taste - very pleasant and atypical ."
Is she the one you are most proud of?
“Yes. Oops. No. I don’t know. In any case, it’s the one that synthesizes the most things. (Laughs)”
This exceptional anniversary capsule was your first collection as a stylist at Hast. Should we get used to seeing some of these models in the future?
"It goes without saying that we won't be able to work regularly with the luxurious materials that were offered exceptionally on the sidelines of our 10th anniversary, but it is not out of the question to see certain cuts , collars or designs integrated into our classic collections depending on how customers receive them. The trousers , for example, offer many possibilities in terms of colours and materials, which makes you want to go further than these 100 limited edition copies . Incidentally, the materials that we usually use in our collections are already exceptional for this price range, according to an experienced stylist."
We are going to offer this exceptional capsule collection to today's Hast men. For you, how are they different from those of the first hour?
"It is obvious that the world of men's clothing has changed a lot in ten years. Since 2012 , blogs have flourished and encouraged an increase in the level of knowledge in terms of clothing. The relationship between men and clothing is therefore no longer the same at all. On the customer side, this development of knowledge translates into increasing demands , which does not displease Hast, whose ambition has always been to offer timeless, high-end and accessible clothing . In a decade, the situation has completely changed: our customers no longer turn to a single-product brand to stock up on well-made shirts, but trust a clothing brand offering, through a complete, honest and functional range , the possibility of dressing in accordance with values and a unique style . On the Hast side, the difference between 2012 and today is due to this little extra soul: we don't just offer the best product at the best price, we aim to change everyday life with consistent and generous collections celebrating quality, know-how and accuracy . As a stylist, this is what I try to do as carefully as possible.
If you had to describe this 10-year capsule collection in three words?
“The perfect versatile wardrobe. Well, “perfect” sounds a bit pompous since I’m the one who worked on it (laughs). Let’s say iconic versatile wardrobe !”
The final word?
"Dress up however you like, and do it every day ! And above all, come to hast.fr on Friday, March 10 at 10:00 a.m. to discover this sublime collection!"
