JEAN-PAUL LESPAGNARD / AN ESCALE IN HYDRA

Ready to wear collection / Design & production

“I created this collection to capture the island’s artistic spirit, blending global fabrics and craftsmanship into versatile pieces that carry the essence of travel, freedom, and everyday beauty.”

The collection was conceived for my Escale on the island of Hydra. Once celebrated for its shipyards and the lively trade of crafts, Hydra today is an island of artists, where life unfolds on foot, with donkeys or by boat, untouched by cars.

This collection carries that same ease and sense of creative freedom.

I weave together fabrics, everyday clothing shapes, and patterns from across the world: Moroccan, Italian, and Belgian cotton poplins, Italian silk crepes, Indian silk taffetas, and technical Italian laces. Sleeves are cut from the working man’s shirt. Boxer shorts escape underwear to become beach shorts with pockets. The lunghi shifts from a morning garment into a taffeta skirt for both men and women. Pyjama pants evolve into companions for errands in the city.

Each silhouette is a dialogue of textures and motifs that speaks both intimately and universally.

Accessories extend this exploration of culture and craftsmanship: hats crafted in Athens, raw sand-cast jewelry from Delhi, and glass bead necklaces from Mexico.

The pieces move effortlessly from the beach to an evening dinner, from holiday rituals to urban life, carrying with them the memory of sun, light, and freedom.

Wearing them is like carrying a fragment of the island itself, reminding us that art, travel, and encounters are always within reach.