By Maria Wasag
Malan Breton is one of the American faces that many people recognise, thanks to shows like The Malan Show and Project Runway. But his reputation is not only that of a brilliant designer but that of a brilliant human being – a man with sensitivity and compassion.
Malan has been known to interrupt his shows to meditate, and is active on his Instagram not only to publicise his collections but to write personal messages to his clients individually.
Many designers work slowly and rarely release their works. Not Malan. The award-winning designer hails from Taipei, Taiwan, and became the first designer to kickstart some of the cryptocurrency phenomenon by opening the first blockchain-based online fashion store.
Fashion is not his only passion. He is also a film director who won the London Fashion Film Festival in 2021, a musician and a singer. He founded his clothing brand in 2003 as “Malan Breton”, but Fantôme Malan Breton, his present company, was established in 2012.
Breton has two decades behind him in the industry, which seems like an eternity in this profession and deserves great admiration. He is a very shy character. He was harassed and discriminated against more than once for his appearance. As a model, he had heard many times that he should undergo a nose job to be more successful. After that, he gave up modelling.
He was fired as a contestant on Project Runway and after that he received an email from Jennifer Lopez herself asking him to continue his activities.
London and New York
Malan Breton shares his life between New York and London. London knows less of him, which makes him feel quiet anonymous and happy, so half of every month every month he stays in his beloved Marylebone, spending time with his friends.
New York does not give him such freedom; he needs to travel by Uber or private car because he is stopped at every step, for example in the subway or on the street.
Breton started his career in the 1990s. He was a guru of the New York Broadway scene from his youth, and trained in ballet. He found his way to fashion when he was recognised as a model at the 1996 in “Versus Versace” show.
What characterises his brand are futuristic, soft, airy silhouettes with unique faces, and strong silhouettes with heavy features at night on red carpets. The Malan Breton brand combines, above all, delicate themes of conscience, morality, and the author’s vision: great empathy and dystopia.
The materials that combine with each other are a classic with a noble overtone. Each part of the styling is made with passion and respect for the recipient. Malan also shows how important details are through sequins, gilding, jewellery and shoes. Expensive, noble but durable materials such as silk chiffon, silk brocade, cashmere and leather are used in the production of this brand’s fashion collections.
New collection
Malan Breton surprised everyone with his Fantôme Fall/Winter 2022-23 collection, which took place at Sony Hall in the heart of Manhattan, New York City during New York Fashion Week. The show was refined with details such as music that spoiled the audience, as well as live, dance and film music produced by SOHOMUSE.
Designer: Malan Breton- AW22 collection NYFW x Runway 7. Photo Credit: Danny Chin.
Breton is known in Great Britain as the “master of women’s suits”. His “Fashion United” collection is partly made of recycled materials, which is a huge plus for eco fanatics these days. His famous suit, worn by celebrities on the BAFTAS, AMA and TONY Awards red carpets, was also present on the catwalk.
His suits are a kind of feminine version of men’s clothing, a fashion for sophisticated women who know the importance of fashion and sensuality. Highlighting black and red at the fashion show added spice and the viewer could not take his eyes off the whole arrangement. Breton’s fashion is a fashion that will never fade away.
During an interview with fashion lover Emily Varr, who is also a manager for luxury brands in Belgium, Breton gave many interesting answers. Varr met Breton at New York Fashion Week in 2019, where he put on his show, “Show Girl”. “The show was amazing, full of colour and sensitivity,” said Varr.
Varr later said she was lucky to get the interview. “He’s a great and intelligent character, it’s amazing that he treats his fans equally and devotes as much time as necessary. I asked him mainly how it happened that he was on such a peak in life and he replied: ‘Well Emily, I have expressed a lot with my own marketing. I have been very controversial in the fashion industry especially in the US, and I mainly relate to my TV shows.
“You could say I cut my teeth in an internship at Savile Row, as long as it doesn’t sound weird to be where I am. And what is impossible for me is the television coverage. Even the Central American population knows who I am, and that’s a great honour.”
Some of his latest collections of dazzling, authentic and glamorous designs provide us with collections that really make it stand out. And he seems to never stop working: when war broke out in Ukraine, he created a beautiful charity concert paying tribute to casualties of the war, and donated money to the victims.
He is also busy dressing huge stars such as Ariana Grande and creating costumes for RuPaul’s Drag Race. Soon he will release a perfume titled “236” at his address on 5th Avenue in New York, which will be available from the Sephora drugstore chain, and there are plans for a series of homemade candles as well.
As he himself says: “Wherever you go, shine …”
*Follow his Instagram.
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