Hippolyte Laporte Debuts Behind the Curtain at Défilé HEAD, Queering Sartorial Codes

In 2024, Hippolyte Laporte, a designer from HEAD in Geneva, unveiled his collection, Behind the Curtain, during the Défilé HEAD. This project delves into themes of male strip-tease and virility, reinterpreting archetypes such as the motorcyclist and businessman with a burlesque twist. By incorporating transparencies and couture cuts, Laporte challenges conventional menswear, transforming their significance. His designs showcase architectural plaid fabrics and unique collar shapes, allowing outfits to embody distinct characters. He critiques social pressures and heteropatriarchy, using powerful garments to confront prevailing norms. The collection underscores the constructed nature of fashion standards, proposing that dressing is a performative act that reveals the delicate balance between identity and appearance, thus making conventions open to negotiation.