Drew Henry is about to present his first collection as artistic director of Courrèges at Paris Fashion Week, after years working behind the scenes at Céline, JW Anderson, Phoebe Philo and Burberry. The Drew Henry Courrèges debut is one of only two debuts in Paris this season, alongside Carven, so attention is high.
From South Africa to Central Saint Martins
Born in Witbank, South Africa, to British and Irish parents, Henry grew up moving between South Africa and Botswana. He studied at LISOF in Johannesburg, then enrolled at Central Saint Martins in London in 2008. He graduated from the MA in 2014 under Louise Wilson. Before moving to Paris, he was senior design director at Burberry.
Henry says he never wanted his own label and preferred to bring his vision to projects. Asked what he learned from Philo, he answered with a single word: integrity.
Color, Knitwear and a Pared-Back Venue
For SS27, Henry has explored the archives, focusing on the colorful early 1960s rather than the minimalist Space Age look his predecessor Nicolas Di Felice first emphasized. He says the collection has no key silhouettes and is instead about knitwear and color. Photography drives his process, and he builds from images he shoots himself, including archive pieces such as the 1977 white biker trousers inspired by Formula 1. He has also revived the house’s 1967 logo.
The show takes place Wednesday at the Palais de Tokyo, a simpler setting than Di Felice’s spectacular Carreau du Temple shows. Henry wants the focus on the clothes and casting, with a soundtrack by London producer Vegyn.
Courrèges is owned by Artémis, the Pinault family holding company, which became its majority shareholder in 2018. Led by CEO Marie Leblanc, the house has nine boutiques and concessions and roughly 200 points of sale worldwide. Henry sees its size as an opportunity to grow.