We continue our series on extreme undies with Vizeau. Vizeau is the company that really sparked the interest in the series. I have seen them on the net for a few years and they have always done some really “out there” things. They did the swimsuit that had no sides and I always wondered how it got held up. They have always been innovative and not conformed to the standards of men’s underwear, rarely going for the traditional underwear, pushing the envelop with skimpy, fun, and hot creations.

Where does your inspiration come from?
That comes from so many sources that are brought to us via the news channels, films and books, shows we enjoy or by walking down the streets and observing the movement of garments people buy for themselves. There is a profound influence from the modern art scene, Philosophy and Sociology. After a great art exhibition or a book, we will sit together (or separate) and make clippings of images that deconstruct what we’ve read or seen into their basic elements. What comes next is the assembly of all those sources into what feels true to us and expresses the current energy we feel as a group when looking at the tryouts, all the way into the finished garment.

How would you describe the Vizeau client?
Although mostly male, women now make 35% of purchases. Because the garments are conversation pieces, it is usually a fit and confident person who  appreciates the design and knows they are buying an interesting item of great  quality.

What gives a Vizeau bathing suit or undergarment its allure?
They are designed to fit comfortably, but with a very sexy edge by emphasizing the wearer’s best assets, or by teasing the eye, beckoning the viewer to follow the colors, straps and cutouts…

Your items are interesting and unique, indeed. How would you compare them against current trends?
Fashion is an international industry that promotes the “new”. Style is the selection of pieces from it and an individual’s assertion of their personality through Aesthetics. We acknowledge trends, but remain sui generis in our vision.  Swimwear and underwear don’t always take their cues from other clothes.

Sometimes, our collections will be based completely on themes we choose to explore: for example, we wrote “Retro” a trio of months ago on the board and that inspired photographs of a model in pseudo-retro garments that bore bright colors, absorbed superhero influences and used hot accessories to conjure an updated version of what was in our collective memory. This collection was named “80’s Toy” http://www.vizeau.net/TOY/index.html.

These experiments result in new Collections and our clients choose among these offerings for what suits their lifestyle. Every season compels us to produce something new instead of turning out historical replicas. We love Fashion Design and encourage each other in the group to propel our imagination with very few limits and censorship.

To Check out Vizeau please visit their website. They are always coming out with new and fun items. Even if this isn’t your style, you should check it out often to see what’s going on in the world of extreme undies.