|
Fecal Matter: a story of triumph and beauty
On this week's Fashion Neurosis guests, artist duo Fecal Matter.
| |||||||||||||||
 |
I have admired the work of design duo Fecal Matter - or the more refined sounding Matières Fécales - from when I first became aware of them. Firstly, how could you not love a brand with that name! They are a part of the Rick Owens extended family – Rick and Michele are Godparents to many beautiful outsiders - Hannah Rose and Steven Raj have experienced the warm generosity of the Owens Family love.
“Freedom is true defiance” - Steven Raj in this week’s episode of Fashion Neurosis
One of the boring myths around people in fashion is that everyone is competitive with each other at the expense of normal curiosity and desire for friendship. I first became friends with Rick and Michele at a Gala for Save the Elephants some years ago, thrown by then Prince Charles and his bride Camilla, and held at Clarence House. It was a very fashion friendly gathering, and when I spied Rick all dolled up in his beautiful signature Perspex heel platform shoes and long black hair, I made a beeline and attached myself to him. Steven and Hannah said they had come to Paris and been invited to a Halloween dinner party at Casa Rick and Michele – that was when they attached. I hadn’t met them before but we had exchanged friendly texts and they sounded so nice.
We had never recorded an episode of Fashion Neurosis with two people. I liked the idea of a couple squashed up together on the couch, it is such a nice thing to do when you do it. Hannah was dressed is a rose pink satin jacket and skirt with white dove wings attached to the side of her head, framing her beauty and intelligence like something sent to her by a protective woodland spirit - in this case crafted by the great milliner Stephen Jones. Steven Raj was wearing a white shirt and tie – as was I – with black leather trousers and built-up shoes which made his long legs even longer. They both looked so enchanting and serious.
 |
As well as making exquisite clothes, Steven and Hannah’s design aesthetic extends to embellishing the body: limbs accessorized with protuberances on legs, like the stalk of a rose with a giant thorn, seemingly made of flesh. There is something compellingly beautiful in the shockingness of it. So much tenderness which comes from within them. It is a wonderful thing to be enveloped in their sincere warmth and radical kindness.
 |
 |
Watch the full conversation with Hannah, Steven and I here.
Where to find Fashion Neurosis:
Follow and review us on Apple Podcasts
Follow and rate us on Spotify
Watch and subscribe on YouTube