Christophe Coppens 'Birdman & Birdwoman' collection - a milliner's ode to birds of paradise

Not all birds go peep peep, not all ladies are gaga and not all hats are there to simply protect their wearers from the rain. The horse races at Ascot have certainly gone to show that some ladies simply like to combine haut couture with a bird’s nest. In turn, milliner Christophe Coppen’s new winter collection: Birdman & Birdwoman goes to show that this is not necessarily meant in a negative way. An ode to birds of paradise.

The sky’s most exotic inhabitants inspired the Belgian creative multi-talent: their fairytale-like colourful feathers, their wings and their melodic songs. Birds spend their days with their feet on the ground and their heads in the clouds, as do the wearers of this magical milliner’s creations. They register what is going on around them and yet still manage to take on a carefree approach to life.

The collection experiments with warm orange tones, with yellows, browns and beiges. An electric blue provides accents, the colours of an icebird are mirrored indefinitely. This is contrasted by black and white. Coppens sculpts hats, caps, berets, scarves and gloves made of silk, suede, rabbit fur, felt and wool.

Christophe Coppens was born in Belgium, 1969 and began his career in theatre direction and theatre costume. A lot has happened since then. He created hats for collections by Yohji Yamamoto, Guy Laroche and Lolita Lempicka. His creations travel to exhibitions in Paris, New York, Brussels, Tokyo and Amsterdam, they can be viewed and purchased from over 250 stores worldwide.

Just like the rare birds that inspire him, he has of course also been discovered. Coppens' creations have adorned Lady Gagas peroxide bob and Beth Ditto extrovert head. Flip open a copy of Citizen K or Harper’s Bazaar and you’re sure to find his designs in their natural habitat.

In the words of Khalil Gibran: ‘the twittering of birds awakens humankind from its indifference”. Peep, peep said the hat.


www.christophecoppens.com