Jef Montes

Jef Montes drew inspiration from sailboats and the materials they are constructed from. Montes translated this to materials such as fiberglass, carbon, brass, nylon, aramid, silk, wool, viscose and cotton. His fascination for sailboats is originated in his youth, when he watched his grandfather - a retired fisherman - build miniature versions.
The silhouettes in the collection are based on the shapes of the sailboat. Materials seem to move around the body like a ship in a storm: geometrical and organic at the same time – inspired by a clash between technology and nature.
Jef developed his distinctive silhouettes even further and played with symmetry and asymmetry. The character of the fabrics often dictate the silhouettes. Due to the extensive experimenting with the materials and the way the silhouettes are created, every look has its own story.
Fire and water were key-factors in the creative process. Jef used fire to literally blow up materials and subsequently decorated burned parts with Swarovski crystals. Experiments with water-soluble material and chemical reactions resulted in innovative fabrics.