Could you tell us the inspirations behind the collection? Who is the Bastian man you are presenting to us? Where or what kinds of inspirations are fueling this collection?
This season, I wanted to explore the darker corner of who the Michael Bastian guy is. As an American menswear designer, i think it’s important to always ground this idea here– In my own country and on my own experiences– so I started the season by studying the works of the American painter Andrew Wyeth who lived and worked in Cushing, Maine. Wyeth was particularly fascinating to me because his pictures always invite you to go deeper– what might look in passing like a simple landscape or portrait always holds darker secrets and invites you to step deeper into his complicated world. Sometimes it’s the perspective he chose, or the randomness of what he put in or left out of a painting that raises these questions and makes things a bit unsettled. His paintings and drawings can be menacing, lonely, introspective, bizarre, peaceful, cold or sensual, but they are never simply what they seem at first glance. “
How has the reference and target for the brand changed during the last few years? Who is the Michael Bastian man now?
I always think he’s a guy in his 30s or 40s, lives in a city, takes his clothes and how he dresses seriously, but it isn’t the main thing in his life– he’s got a lot of interests and clothes are just one of them. This target and reference has never changed for me.
What are your plans moving forward for Europe, and specifically, Italy? Do you think we could be interesting markets for the Michael Bastian line?
We currently sell throughout Europe in the UK, France, Germany, Austria and Turkey and in a handful of online stores—like www.thecorner.com. We are also finalizing the development of our first e-commerce store, which should help us grow our business and reach a larger audience. Europe (and Italy) is a very important market for us, and we hope to grow and nurture it more in the future.
Other than obvious design differences, in what ways is the Michael Bastian line different from the one you design for Gant?
The GANT by Michael Bastian man is a sporty, athletic, tailored and fashion conscious consumer. He is urban, with a modern mindset that feels both approachable and sophisticated. It’s a true lifestyle collection in that respect. As for the Michael Bastian line, that is a true luxury designer line that is more targeted toward a connoisseur, with lots of handwork in the garments, exclusive fabrics, particular fits, all made in Europe – that kind of thing.
What are some of your plans for the future?
We hope to open our first freestanding store in New York and then slowly develop the retail concept into other cities and countries.
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