CARVEN
We say méduse, you say jellyfish,” says Alexis Martial, pointing to the aquatic-themed mood board in his Saint-Germaindes-Prés office. And although jellyfish may have roamed the seas for 500 million years, while Martial and his co–artistic director at Carven, Adrien Caillaudaud, have barely been in situ for one, they are already electrifying the label’s legacy of pacy, accessible French style.
Though they were friends since their days at the Atelier Chardon Savard fashion school, they joined forces only after Martial was at Iceberg, Paco Rabanne, and Givenchy (where Caillaudaud was working on shoes and accessories). While their aesthetic is Paris-honed, “a Parisian girl today is not necessarily French,” says Martial. “She’s spirited and global and an explorer—like Zale Parry, who was one of the first women scuba divers,” finishes…