Chantal Wehran

“My dream of becoming a fashion designer was born in my final year of elementary school. At the time, I had little understanding of what it meant and the challenges it entailed, but I was drawn to the idea of expressing yourself through clothing and telling stories through design. Clothing, to me, serves as a medium for connecting with the world, expressing our inner selves, and communicating our feelings, values, and perspectives.

While the positive aspects of fashion seem almost infinite, the negative ones, such as the industry’s environmental impact, greenwashing practices and lack of inclusiveness, to name a few, are difficult to ignore. It is inherent that change needs to happen and in the role of a designer I’d like to contribute to a more wholesome fashion industry. I believe that problems such as clothing waste, overconsumption and environmental pollution are the result of our disconnection from the production process and a flawed value system.

Attending fashion school allowed me to explore the intricacies of pattern making and sewing, and gave me a profound understanding of the craftsmanship that goes into garment making. Fashion design is more than just creating pretty sketches; it’s a multi-step process involving inspiration, idea development, concept building, pattern creation, trials, fittings, and production and continues beyond. In addition, many steps in the production chain, such as picking cotton or other labor- and resource-rich processes, are often forgotten, even though they are essential in calculating the value of a garment. I strongly believe that understanding the effort involved in creating a garment would foster a different connection to clothing, prompting a reevaluation of fast fashion prices and the value we attach to clothing in general.”

“In keeping with my beliefs, I’ve established three core values that are at the heart of everything I create: craftsmanship, individuality, and longevity. Craftsmanship, for me, involves valuing the time, technique, and knowledge invested in creating designs. Techniques like embroidery and knitting need to be cherished, shared and preserved for the future, which is why I love using them in my designs. Since longevity is an important element for me, I try to reuse as many discarded materials as possible, turning what could be considered waste into valuable pieces. I find it exciting to discover new upcycling techniques and apply them to something broken, especially to often highly polluting materials like denim.

Closing my value triangle, individuality to me is a vital aspect of the fashion and clothing experience – a deep connection to expressing ourselves authentically. Yet, discovering personal style can be challenging in a trend-driven world. From my textile and craft-driven point of view in design, the appreciation of craftsmanship and longevity naturally leads to unique clothing that hopefully resonates with wearers on a personal level.”

“While I am passionate about my approach to design, I recognize its utopian nature and feasibility only on a small production scale. Maintaining these values will require a shared commitment from consumers, a willingness to pay a reasonable price, and a mindful approach to garment care. While society may not be fully ready for this shift, I hold out hope that we can learn to appreciate clothing for the craftsmanship invested in its creation and advocate for better buying habits, repairs, reuse, recycling, and the creation of heirloom pieces for future generations.”

You can see more of Chantal’s designs here.