*Kagul II*Light*Noeud*Papillon*Star*Luxus*Balance Metal*Hair*Hairzig*The Pope*

Names like «Papillon» (butterfly), «Star», «Luxus» (luxury) and «The Pope» distinguish the accessories which Agnès Bernet produces under a label bearing her name. While the designer takes special care in selecting the exclusive names she also pays particular attention to the materials and exclusiveness of her products. They are developed in an approach that lies between that of fashion and jewellery design.
In her studio in Paris Agnès Bernet turns merino wool, silk, mohair, pearls and chains with great love for details into high quality scarfs, necklaces, neckerchiefs and kaguls (hooded scarfs). Agnès Bernet works with fragments of silhouettes, seeks out the possibilities for changes in them and demands functionality. In her approach she is process-oriented and works with a view to solutions which are sustainable. Her products are clear in their use, cater to people’s practical needs and yet deserve to be appraised as «more in one».
«Kagul», the label’s first design of 2004 changes in appearance with the season but in form and function it remains connected to the hooded sweat-shirt of streetwear culture. «Hair» or «Hairzig» (cute) can be worn as scarf or hood. Hairlike, the loose strands of mohair and merino wool in blonde, brunette, red and black hues are being contained, braided or simply worn flowing open. These accessories create a sensuous experience as soon as you touch them and the skin begins to breathe in them.
«The Pope», the first piece of jewellery of the designer, was created as a reaction to the consecration of Pope Benedict XVI. The piece reminds us in its aura of a tassel hanging from a cord which creates equilibrium in the back of the pope’s robe.
The individual products within a collection by Agnès Bernet ought to be seen as independently functioning fragments. Together as a whole they form a homogenous unit. If a piece is removed from the unit, both the unit and the piece remain whole, nothing is missing. The fragment that has been removed unfolds individually and blends in elsewhere.
The pieces appearing under the label «Agnès Bernet» are limited editions. In selected boutiques and concept stores you can find them in small numbers of each collection. Agnès Bernet accessories can be found at: Boutique Roma Zürich and St.Gallen, Vestibule Zürich, in concept stores in Paris, Vienna and Tokyo.
Agnès Bernet studied at the University of Applied Arts in Vienna. She has been working for renowned fashion designers and collaborates regularly with textile, fashion and industrial designers.

Katja Jug, Author and Photographer
(Translation: Martina Wider)