MARCH 25 2022

GQ — RICK OWENS: "I LIKE TO LIVE IN MY OWN PRIVATE FOG" — 25 MARCH 2022 — BY ZAK MAOUI

RICK OWENS IS NO STRANGER TO A COLLABORATION. IN THE PAST THE AMERICAN, PARIS-BASED DESIGNER HAS WORKED WITH CONVERSE TO DESIGN HIS OWN SNEAKERS (WHICH SOLD OUT INSTANTLY UPON THEIR RELEASE), DR MARTENS, VEJA AND CHAMPION. NOW HE'S DROPPED HIS MOST INTERESTING COLLABORATIVE PROJECT TO DATE, WITH SKINCARE BRAND AESOP.

AESOP AND OWENS' COLLABORATION CAME ABOUT AFTER THE 60-YEAR OLD DESIGNER APPROACHED THE 35-YEAR OLD BRAND. OWENS CONFESSES THAT HE HAS USED AESOP’S VEGAN HAIR AND BODY CARE PRODUCTS FOR MULTIPLE YEARS. IN 2017, THE NEW YORK TIMES REVEALED THAT OWENS “EMITS THE DELICIOUS SMELL OF AESOP FACE CREAM” AND A 2021 VOGUE PHOTOSHOOT OF HIS VENICE HOME SHOWED HE HAS A BATHROOM FULL OF ITS DISPENSERS. MEANWHILE THE PAIR HAVE EXPRESSED THEIR MUTUAL ADMIRATION FOR EACH OTHER’S DISTINCT APPROACH TO DESIGN: OWENS IS KNOWN FOR HIS GRUNGE-IFIED PUNK CLOTHING, WHILE AESOP HAS MASTERED THE ART OF CHIC, MINIMAL LABELLING.


THE NEW, LIMITED EDITION COLLECTION COMPRISES PEPPERY, VETIVER-BASED AROMATIQUE CANDLE (AVAILABLE IN THREE SIZES) AND A TRAVEL KIT, WHICH FEATURES A QUARTET OF BODY AND HAIR CARE PRODUCTS - CORIANDER SEED BODY CLEANSER, RESOLUTE HYDRATING BODY BALM, AND THE CLASSIC SHAMPOO AND CONDITIONER - AS WELL AS CERAMIC BEADS AND A JERSEY WRAP. THIS, OWENS SHARED ON INSTAGRAM, WAS INSPIRED BY THE T-SHIRTS WORN BY SID VICIOUS AND SEEN IN SATYAJIT RAY’S FILMS.

THE STANDOUT CREATION FROM THE PAIR IS ARGUABLY THE STOIC EAU DE TOILETTE OIL, WHICH IS AVAILABLE IN THE TRAVEL KIT. DEVELOPED WITH AESOP COLLABORATOR AND EXPERT PERFUMER BARNABÉ FILLION, THE FRAGRANCE TAPS INTO BOTH LABEL'S AESTHETICS AND SPICY BLACK PEPPER AND CORIANDER SEED REFLECT THE RADICAL NATURE OF RICK OWENS'S LABEL, WHILE FRANKINCENSE AND WOODY NOTES CONJURE THE EQUANIMOUS SPIRIT OF AESOP.

ALL PRODUCTS ARE AVAILABLE TO BUY NOW AT AESOP.COM. GQ SAT DOWN WITH OWENS TO FIND OUT MORE ABOUT THE COLLABORATION, AS WELL AS HOW HE WINDS DOWN AND WHAT SCENTS HE FINDS ATTRACTIVE.

WITH SUCH A BUSY LIFESTYLE, HOW DO YOU FIND SERENITY ON-THE-GO?

I TAKE A 1.5 HOUR NAP EVERY DAY WITHOUT FAIL. WHEN I MOVED TO EUROPE IT WAS A WAY TO ESCAPE BEING OVERSATURATED WITH THE NEW PACE GLOBAL DISTRIBUTION INTRODUCED INTO MY LIFE AND IT STUCK. I REALISED IT WAS PROBABLY MY VERSION OF A MEDITATIVE SELF-MEDICATION.

WHAT ARE THE MUST HAVE ITEMS IN YOUR SUITCASE WHEN TRAVELLING?

VERY FEW. I CAN TAKE A CARRY-ON ANYWHERE. BLACK SHORTS, BLACK CASHMERE TURTLENECK, BLACK AND WHITE T-SHIRTS, AND SNEAKERS TO WORK OUT. I USUALLY WEAR A TAILORED COAT AND PLATFORMS ON THE PLANE. AND ALWAYS A FEW BOOKS.

WHAT IS THE IMPORTANCE OF DESIGN WITHIN HOMEWARES TO YOU?

I LIKE SURROUNDING MYSELF WITH AS MUCH CUSTOMISATION AS I CAN AS A PROTECTIVE BUBBLE. I LIKE TO LIVE IN MY OWN PRIVATE FOG…I LIKE KEEPING THINGS STRICTLY REDUCED BUT THE ESSENTIALS AS REFINED AS POSSIBLE….LIKE CUSTOMISED TOILETS AND METAL ELECTRIC SOCKETS….AND PERSONAL SCENT….

WHY DID YOU WANT TO COLLABORATE WITH AESOP?

I THINK WE BOTH SHARE A DESIRE TO BE AN OPTION FOR THOSE PURSUING A GENTLE, CAREFULLY CONSIDERED LIFE. MY DESIGNS MIGHT BE CONSIDERED BOLD BUT THE FOUNDATION IS ONE OF BENEVOLENCE. I HAVE BEEN USING AESOP EXCLUSIVELY FOR MY PERSONAL GROOMING NEEDS FOR YEARS. I AM NOT SURE IF IT WAS MY BODY RESPONDING POSITIVELY TO THE ALCHEMY OF THE UNGUENTS THEY PRODUCED, OR MY HEAD RESPONDING TO THE QUIET AND GENTLE AESTHETICS OF THEIR ETHOS AS A COMPANY, BUT AESOPS BALMS REPRESENTED A SOOTHING MOOD THAT I WANTED TO CONTINUE SEAMLESSLY THROUGH MY HOME LIFE AND MY TRAVEL LIFE.

WHAT FRAGRANCE DO YOU WEAR?

I LIKE DUSTY SCENTS LIKE PATCHOULI, FRANKINCENSE, AND SANDALWOOD. I WEAR A CUSTOM SCENT BARNABÉ FILLION MADE FOR ME WHICH LED TO US CREATING THIS OTHER SCENT TOGETHER FOR AESOP.

WHAT FRAGRANCES DO YOU FIND ATTRACTIVE?

I ALWAYS HAVE LONGIFLORUM LILIES IN MY PROXIMITY - I LOVE THEM IN BUD WITH A SHARP FRESH SCENT, I LOVE THEM AT THE FULL BLAST OF THEIR PEAK AND I LOVE THEM AT THEIR HEADY DECADENT DECLINE.

WHAT IS BEAUTY TO YOU?

GRACE AND KINDNESS.