Benoit Missolin

Born in Avignon the 6th of July 1973, Benoît Missolin spent his childhood in Vaison La Romaine. The bambino creates outfits for his Snoopy, scribbles dresses in the margins of his school books.

Adolescent, he sends his sketches to the main fashion houses. Christian Lacroix replies, thus begins a correspondance; the couturier acts as mentor and guide. School diploma in pocket,

Benoît Missolin makes off for Paris.

He takes courses at the school of the Chambre Syndicale de la Couture, before heading off to the Studio Berçot. Then a series of apprenticeships, at Christian Lacroix — bien sur — but also at Jean Colonna, Thierry Mugler, and Fred Sathal where he is appointed assistant.

In his free time, the young man elaborates funky accessories: bags with cow-boy motif appliqués for the girls and sequined cummerbunds for the boys. He designs his first collection in 1997, but things really start to take shape in 2001 when he presents his first mixed catwalk show under a Tyrolese-Disco inspiration. The following collections go from “Croisiere a Hawai” to “Piste aux Etoiles”. Each season,Benoît Missolin produces a scintillating catalogue where vintage shop window dummies in effigies of Marilyn or Elvis take preferrence over top models.

In November 2002, winner at the “Gwand Festival”, he comes away with the Swiss Textile Award; a financial aid that will consequently accompany his developpement.

In November 2004, he was chosen to represent France in Absolute Vodka’s project, “Absolute Label”,for which he created a limited edition of 150 sweatshirts.

Next, it’s Soco’s turn, as they ask him to reinterpret the look of their brand in honor of the 20th anniversary of the “San Diego” collection.

Since the summer of 2005, he has chosen to focus on accessories, and he has created a collection of hats recovered with a patchwork of vintage silk foulard fabric; a unique “couture” body of work that has enabled him to branch to other artistic endeavors.

During France’s year of cultural exchange with Brazil “Brésil,Brésils”, he was chosen by the City of Paris to create a collection of bags in collaboration with an embroidery cooperative in one of Rio de Janeiro’s favelas, where he was in residence during April and May 2005.

For 2006, Benoit Missolin created the costumes for the theater production “L’illusion comique” directed by Manon Savary, and presented in June at Jacques Garcia’s Chateau du Champ de Bataille. He also spend the month of november in residence at San Cristobal de las Casas, Mexico, where he produced an art project in collaboration with photographer Vincent Gapaillard.