Following her first full collection of luxuriously crafted clutch bags for the Paris concept store last year, Olympia has expanded the collection and diversified into equally covetable suitcases, tote bags and pouches.

Her signature clutch bags are hand-made recreations of first edition book covers, raided from her artist and book collector father, Pierre Le-Tan’s library.

For the AW 10-11 collection, Olympia was inspired by Paris, the 1940s, surrealism and books that were turned into movies.  One of the most striking is her range of boxy clutch bags, each featuring a play on the French word boite.

The bags are crafted a base of cotton canvas and are embroidered with silk thread, with felt appliqué in bold colours and lined with Liberty of London fabric.  Each piece also comes with a hand-stitched label inside that says, ‘Made in Paris with love’.

The clutch bags are priced between 950-1090 EUR, but there are also more affordable entry pieces, featuring printed illustration by Olympia Le-Tan and André.

The full Olympia Le-Tan AW 10-11 is available to buy online and in store at colette.

André made his name as a world-renowned graffiti artist with his Love Graffiti and has redefined nightlife in Paris, New York and Tokyo with his clubs Le Baron, Le Paris Paris and Beatrice Inn.

This month, André is showing a different side of his work in his ‘drawings’ exhibition at Colette.  This is a rare opportunity to see some of his work in a gallery setting, as he would never confine his graffiti to a space.

In an interview with Dazed Digital, André summed up the street art debate perfectly by saying: “You can’t put street art into a gallery, it’s condescending and limiting: 80 per cent of the graffiti is in the act, the challenge. The result is meant to disappear. Galleries are traditional spaces, and street art is what it is: it’s a vandalizing act.”

André took inspiration from the love imagery/LSD art of the 1960s and 1970s, Krazy Kat comic strips and Pierre Le-Tan’s illustrations.  Many are very personal with references to his past and present, such as his favourite novels and his whirlwind love affair with ex-wife Uffie and the arrival of their baby Henrietta.

On display will be over 30 sketches, limited edition silk screens and pieces made for Purple Fashion Magazine.  The space has also been given a slick André make-over, with spray painted columns, customised surfboards, Monsieur A. rubber balls and a viewing space painted black.

A selection of André’s framed silk screens are available to buy online, priced at an affordable €1000-€2000 and ‘Drawings’ is on at Colette until 27 February.

]]> http://cheriecity.co.uk/2010/02/07/andre-moves-from-street-to-gallery/feed/ 0