94 FASHION
INTERVIEW WITH ISABELLE BORDJI , ARTISTIC DIRECTOR
We know that Maison Ernest has a rich heritage but could you tell us more about the history of the brand and how important its history is to the product you design today ?
In the early 20th century , Maison Ernest was known for its taboo high heels . The women of high society secretly came to order their high heels ... to show off , to play a role , as if these heels gave them an exhilarating feeling that made them forget what they were supposed to be ... to become , for a moment , who they really were deep down inside . Today , this is what my creations for Maison Ernest represent : the awakening of one ’ s true nature ...
All of the products are stunning and have their own unique identity but could you tell us what your favorite product is to design and sell ?
Bandit : Inspired by the French Cancan , and in particular by La Goulue ( the legendary 19thcentury cabaret dancer who hit the headlines as a free soul at a time when freedom was reserved exclusively for men ), Bandit was to be an everyday style , for every outfit and above all ... for every body type . This last point was important to me . I think I have succeeded in this challenge , and I ’ m very proud of it !
Lidylle : I dreamed of this little mule , easy to wear , like a piece of jewelry that delicately dresses the foot ... a foot that is not naked but as if it were , which makes it ultra-sexy ! Others have adopted it too ... Hailey Bieber , Margot Robbie , Elle Fanning , Leyna Bloom , Jennifer Lawrence , and many more ...
How is working in the fashion industry different today than when you started out ?
When I started 27 years ago , everything was different , easier , and harder at the same time . We weren ’ t even using the Internet yet , and social networks even less . For my first shoe collection ( I was 22 ), all I had to do was go to a trade show and I ended up at Le Bon Marché or Galeries Lafayette in Paris . The contact with buyers was more fluid
THE ART OF LUXURY Issue 61 2023