Outline:
A New Chapter for Charlie Le Mindu
Paris is set to witness a return of the visionary hair artist Charlie Le Mindu, who is making a comeback to the Paris catwalk after nearly a decade. His upcoming hair collection, “Skins Couture SS26,” will be showcased on January 29, marking a significant moment in his career.
The name “Skins” holds special significance for Le Mindu, as it reflects his move to America seven years ago. This experience broadened his perspective on beauty and diversity, which he now celebrates through his work. “It opened my eyes in terms of beauty,” he said, emphasizing the importance of this phase in his artistic journey.
Le Mindu’s return to the runway has been eagerly anticipated. He mentioned that his clients, stylists, and magazines have all expressed a desire to see his shows again. “We miss your shows, we would love to see them again,” they told him. This support has motivated him to bring his unique vision back to the Parisian fashion scene.
Over the past ten years, Le Mindu has focused on creating costumes for operas and ballets, while also exploring various fashion techniques. He spent time learning in the ateliers of the Leipzig and Berlin opera houses, immersing himself in the poetry behind fashion. Now, he feels it’s the right time to return to the Paris runway with his own creations. “I just wanted to come back and do a bit of poetry,” he explained, adding that there’s also a sense of fun involved in his new collection.
The “Skins” collection features human hair fashions, with a performance component that highlights the importance of movement in his work. Following the performance, a classic runway display will take place, offering a different way for Le Mindu to present his art.
One of his recent notable projects was creating the blond hair suits for Doja Cat’s Coachella performance in 2024. “That was a big, big moment,” he said, calling it one of his career highlights. The event was broadcast live on giant screens, allowing hundreds of thousands of people to witness his work. “It felt really amazing,” he added, though he felt it was a good point to end that chapter. “Everyone was asking me to do like Chewbaccas,” he continued, referencing the hairy creature from “Star Wars.”
Le Mindu also worked with Chappell Roan on the hair production for her music video “The Subway,” including an installation. He took over the famed staircase at La Samaritaine, showcasing tresses of all colors in an exhibition called “Trichophilia.” More recently, he has been experimenting with human hair in formats that resemble sculpture and painting, exploring the versatility of the medium.
Le Mindu wanted to involve people close to him in his upcoming show. The choreographer is one of his best friends, and the head of lighting has worked with him for the past 20 years. p**n Hub is the sponsor of the event.
Le Mindu’s last showing during couture week was for the fall-winter 2015-2016 collection at the Crazy Horse Paris cabaret venue in July 2015. For that racy collection, he drew inspiration from the Surrealist “male gaze” artistic movement of the 1920s.
He initially began staging shows in London, starting with a spring 2009 collection. On January 29, “Skins Couture SS26” will be displayed at 5:30 p.m. CET at La Ménagerie de Verre in the French capital’s 11th district. “I just love the feeling and the energy of the space,” he said. “It’s about movement. I feel very comfortable there.”
More from
EXCLUSIVE: Gymnast Lily Smith Takes to the Skies Above New York City for Rimmel
Mane Acquires Belgian Biotech Company