Although he has travelled and moved around the world extensively, Maxime Fruit has always managed to find something tranquil and serene. For him, home is portable, more of a feeling than a place. The designer has worked with a set of luxury streetwear brands on the production side of things for years. In these roles, he developed a rich understanding of global fashion production and his network. Yet, although loose silhouettes and wearability are priorities for the designer, he is not doing streetwear anymore. MAXIME’s current approach is uniquely informed by furniture fabrication; his garments even use stitching techniques that recall this medium. His silhouettes are simple and elegant but feature elaborate detailing; within their sparseness, luxurious materials and finishes are even more apparent.
MAXIME releases just two collections a year, a slower pace than the global fashion week schedule demands. Fruit’s goal is to produce more sustainably, combating overproduction and allowing his teams to ensure high-quality brand standards. MAXIME exclusively manufactures in France, Italy and Portugal, using some of the same suppliers as the world’s most prestigious luxury houses. We talk to the designer about his fashion background, approach to design and thoughts on home.