Feature: C.R.E.O.L.E. - SS'25 Presentation 'MAGMA 76'
The 1976 eruption in Guadeloupe, which led to an 8-month exile on the archipelago, affected 73,000 people whom some nicknamed "the magma". 'MAGMA 76' is inspired by this little-known episode of the archipelago, which Designer Vincent Frédéric-Colombo has a personal connection to. His parents experienced the 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.
The presentation showcased a mise en abyme of the danger of the volcano against the ORSEC plan that the population had to discover during the exodus, deserting four municipalities in the south of Basse-Terre. Utilitarian workwear with exaggerated oversized silhouettes, English embroidery and references to the pan-African spirit through a queer lens comprise the collection. Symbolism, such as the marronage and resilience are also interwoven throughout.
The soundtrack, which was co-produced with assistance from AnyoneID and Dame Civile, offered a visceral and immersive experience that presented guests with a glimpse of what it might've been like to experience the exodus.
Upon presenting the SS'25 collection, Designer Vincent Frédéric-Colombo said the following,
"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 theater 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."
Video Courtesy of C.R.E.O.L.E. and Anthony Goujjane / Photos Courtesy of Fabrice Tayeau & Kelly Koffi
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