Item #16585

SS20 Archivio J.M. Ribot Antique Handwoven Linen Jacket

From Upstairs Garments

Archivio J.M. Ribot, led by Karim Fares, operates less as a fashion label and more as a research-driven practice rooted in the preservation and reinterpretation of historical garments and material. “The name comes from the first batch of vintage clothing I collected, a pair of French wool trousers from the 1920s I found in Provence. Inside, there was a label with the name of the studio and the original owner’s name, J.M. Ribot.” Karim chose not to use his own name, instead working under the moniker "J.M. Ribot" to allow the identity of the original maker to continue existing through each new piece. In doing so, authorship is no longer fixed to a single designer but shared across time, allowing clothes to transcend their original function and continue evolving beyond it. Centered around "Uchronia", a concept/literary device used to define an ideal time that has never existed, often translated to "alternate history", Karim develops his label through two parallel lines: the main Archivio collection, made from textiles and hardware sourced from bazaars across Europe, and the one-of-a-kind Riforma series, where early 20th century garments are deconstructed to give them new meaning while preserving their history and imperfections. Both lines are entirely handmade in Italy using slow, traditional techniques and are crafted from antique textiles or deadstock fabrics, where inconsistency is inherent. Each resulting piece is unique, and every slight imperfection becomes its most valuab