What inspired this collection?
The La Cage FW26 collection tells the story of a “Mad Traveller.” It is inspired by the life of Albert Dadas, an employee of the Bordeaux Gas Company in the 1880s, whose life was marked by sudden episodes of fugue that took him as far as Russia and Algeria. He would roam for weeks or months, walking all day, and each time returning with no memory of his journey. A traveller without a destination or luggage, described by medical science as a “pathological wanderer.”
Where does your dual fascination with parade and ceremonial garments come from? Are they the most beautiful in your eyes?
Our interest in fashion began at flea markets and the Emmaüs (charity shops). The archival pieces that always caught our eye were time-worn uniforms or ceremonial outfits that seemed never to have been worn. We love garments that feel like relics or talismans, in which you can imagine a young man receiving an award or taking part in a parade under the sun. We are particularly drawn to liturgical garments for their abundance of details, embroidery, and hand stitching.
What changed for you in 2025?
In 2025, we collaborated with Chanel’s Galerie le 19M to share our techniques through workshops, and we developed a collection of artisanal pieces for the Parisian boutique PreClothed. We returned to handcrafting and to the beauty of the gesture, spending time on each piece, an approach that had struggled to find its place in the ready-to-wear industry.
Any mentors or personalities you admire most – in fashion and beyond?
Haider Ackermann and Yang Li, who were our very first internships in fashion. We could not have dreamed of better early experiences, both humanly and creatively.
A bedside book and source of inspiration?
General Tales of Ordinary Madness by Charles Bukowski.
A cult film?
Lost Highway by David Lynch.
Your ultimate spot in Paris?
MK2 Quai de Loire cinema.
Your dreams? Your goal?
To carry on the work we began in 2025 and further develop our collections through an artisanal approach. And to design footwear for our “pathological wanderer.”
This interview has been lightly edited.
