Over the past two decades, L.A. fashion designer Laura Howe has evolved the iconic Matrushka Construction from a glimmering, one-woman vision to an indie enterprise with a few red carpets under her belt. Having dressed folks from all kinds of backgrounds and tastes, Howe has grown a brand and a style for the people.
Now, the self-proclaimed proletariat fashion designer is taking her skills a step further, offering clients a brand new, artistic setting in which to peruse the racks of tempting threads.
The new location comes to you in the form of the Matrushka Atelier. Instead of shopping at a bustling shopfront, clients can now visit Howe’s Matrushka studio exclusively and by appointment only for a full-on bespoke experience at the heart of Sunset Junction. Here, you can get individual access to the artist, who will fit, customize, and hand-make your next killer look.
In the spirited, artistic romance of artists who have paved the way before, the Matrushka Atelier pays homage to the tradition of the artist’s open studio. Giving a touch of personal detail, the Atelier creates a rare contrast to today’s cheap, fast fashion culture. The Matrushka Atelier offers high fashion at a fair price.
Howe is reviving a long standing tradition in art and fashion: the artist’s atelier, or a kind of workshop on display for patrons and private clients. Coco Chanel was famous for her mirrored couture powerhouse, a fashion studio that outfitted many big names of the day. Initially by invitation only, Chanel hosted a sprawling Paris apartment complete with a boutique, a library, and plenty of her signature superstition.
Nineteenth-century Symbolist painter Gustave Moreau’s live/work space was even turned into a museum in Paris, showcasing the artist’s prolific body of work (both fiinished and abandoned). The Musée national Gustave Moreau was originally Moreau’s home, later transformed by the artist into a studio and museum to display his artwork, often describing themes of myth and allegory.
These early artsy ancestral ateliers contributed to the inspiration for Howe to found the Matrushka Atelier, catering to clients who are interested in a more intimate fashion experience along with direct access to the designer. Here, you can also take advantage of her brand new design concept, the Matrushka Silhouette. Expect art and music, and of course, high fashion that can be reached by virtually everyone.
Don’t forget that the Matrushka website is up and running, along with the colorful Instagram page. See something you like? You can buy direct from hundreds of styles, or inquire about the new Atelier.
