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De Rien- The Father and Son fashion duo
Other | Tuesday 25th September 2012 | Annalisa
Homeless chic to hit the streets thanks to this East London rag-tag father and son.
We all know that feeling of devastation as you launch yourself onto the tube in the morning with an Olympic lunge, and the oh so familiar echo of a tear whispers from the crotch of your jeans. You knew they were on the way out, you felt winter's breeze caress your inner thigh on the way in. Alas, now you must throw these perfect fitting beautiful jeans away – or not. Richard and Cosmo Wise of the fashion label De Rien would advise you simply put a patch on it.
The father and son fashion duo taking East London and Ralph Lauren by storm are easily mistakable for your local bums, minus the harmonica. These gentlemen pride themselves on the rebirth of, shall we say, well-loved garments.
"We've got socks that are more darning than socks."
Most of the garments revitalised by the boys are vintage peasant wear from France. Unfortunately, a peasant's wage would not pay for these garments - rather a more highflying banker. Richard is inspired by the way they would, “patch and re-patch clothes and they had so many ways of patching.” The re-work in these items would have a mother’s make do school trousers blushing.
Alongside their base in the painfully trendy Spitalfields Market, the fixer-uppers also have a range of jackets created from vintage materials available at Holsten. If you’re visiting the boys' market stall then expect to pay between £30 and £150 for an item. However, if you feel like splashing some cash, the jackets cost around £600.
As lovely as the passion for renewing clothes - and in Cosmo’s case, bringing back ‘the man dress’ - is, I can’t help but feel cheated paying so much for holey socks I could find in my boyfriend’s draw.
These gents know the nature of the fashion world and its ever changing landscape, and so regularly travel to gain inspiration for new styles and silhouettes. Today Kimonos, tomorrow the man’s tunic. The question is can the boys patch the hole left in your wallet after a trip to their Hackney Wick showroom.
I love your work guys, but I think I’ll leave the patchwork to Elmer the elephant.
By Becky Tanner-Rolf
