Vincent Frédéric-Colombo presented his new SS25 collection as part of Paris Fashion Week. The 18 looks were inspired by a volcano eruption in Guadeloupe in 1976, which led to an 8-month exile on the archipelago, affected 73,000 people whom some nicknamed “the magma”. The show was staged in a tunnel in Paris, and the opening look featured a low-cut asymmetric tank top, paired with a red and white check shirt with boxers on show in the same pattern and bright aquamarine shorts. The model's fingers were covered in makeup representing the idea of ash and tar.
The presentation showcased utilitarian workwear with exaggerated oversized silhouettes, English embroidery and references to the pan-African spirit through a queer lens. The designer said:
“Resilience sometimes opens up paths, especially in the most chaotic moments. ‘MAGMA 76’ highlights a dark, little-known episode in the history of the Guadeloupe archipelago: the eruption of Soufrière in 1976. It was the endless theatre of trauma from the eruption of Mount Pelée and debates of opinions between experts and politicians in the face of a worried and lost population.”
Look 2, 3 and 4 from the collection
His parents experienced the Magma event, which particularly affected the people of Saint-Claude, at the foot of the La Soufrière volcano. Saint-Claude remains Frédéric-Colombo’s family stronghold, where he lived for 17 years. The risks of a natural disaster, the subject of debate between experts and politicians, marked a long period of uncertainty, and little nuggets of inspiration are spread throughout the collection.
Team and Credits
Designer: Vincent Frédéric-Colombo
Styling: Edem Dossou
Casting Director: Stephane Gaboue
Hair Stylist: TOSH
Key Make-Up Artist: Maelys Jallali
Production: Farago Projects
Video Director: Anthony Goujjane
Photographer: Fabrice Tayeau & Kelly Koffi
Lighting Designer: Vincent Goubet
Footwear: Provided by Clarks & Asics
About C.R.E.O.L.E
C.R.E.O.L.E is a manifesto exploring the heritage and future potential of the Creole community and diaspora. The brand challenges traditional gender norms by reimagining the typical men's wardrobe with unisex codes, delicate techniques, and workwear silhouettes. It aims to express Creole culture beyond the usual associations with tourism, music, or entertainment, offering a perspective shaped by historical, social, and political contexts. C.R.E.O.L.E seeks to de-exoticize the narrative around Creole identity, presenting it with a delicate queer sensibility. This expression of identities aims to welcome the world with new perspectives and consciousness.
About Vincent Frédéric-Colombo
Vincent Frédéric-Colombo, born in 1990 in Paris and raised in Guadeloupe, is a French designer who has been based in France since 2008. He graduated from Raoul Georges Nicolo High School in Guadeloupe, studied production design, sociology, and anthropology, and completed his education in fashion design at La HEAD in Geneva. Moving to Paris in 2012, Vincent worked as an assistant manager at Kokon To Zai until 2017 while developing the Creole Soul project, which evolved into the C.R.E.O.L.E brand. This project combines casting, art direction, design, and photography. After a pivotal photography exhibition in 2017, he launched La Creole Party in 2018, co-founding the La Creole collective with Fanny Viguier. This collective has become influential in Parisian nightlife. The brand C.R.E.O.L.E officially launched in Spring 2021 after being refined during the quarantine period.
