olivier saillard

olivier saillard

interview and portrait by OLIVIER ZAHM

the most prominent fashion curator
and historian in paris recently
opened a discreet studio in
the 1st arrondissement to design
his own collection

OLIVIER ZAHM — Parisians have long suffered from the weight of history. But hasn’t that weight turned into an advantage and a strength today, when everything seems to exist solely under the spotlight of novelty, or even false novelty? As a historian of fashion, what do you think?
OLIVIER SAILLARD — In Paris, the weight of history can be restrictive, but when it comes to fashion and haute couture, this city has never been intimidated by the arrival of foreign designers. This is not necessarily the case in other fashion capitals. The Milanese tell me, “Milan Fashion Week is doomed in the long run because no one here wants to attract foreign designers.” London has the good…