Tristan Réhel Is the Kooky Designer That Fashion Needs Right Now

Réhel’s surrealist clothes are certainly not your everyday staples. Minimalism and stealth wealth—two buzzwords of 2023—have no place in the designer’s playful world. “Most of my work has a catharsis feel to me,” says Réhel. “As a child, I was often bullied for being queer, and as a result I created my own universe in my head as an escapism. A safe place full of creatures, weird beauty, and fantasy.” Citing major inspirations such as Dr. Seuss books, Alejandro Jodorowsky movies, and Björk’s music, Réhel imbues his signature pieces with an otherworldly—and slightly cartoony—feeling. He creates pink floral blouses with oversized bows, sheer dresses with a wavy hemline, and giant purses made out of ribbons. “My fever dream-core aesthetic is always a mix of beautiful chaos,” says Réhel. “We find colorful pieces full of horsehair ribbons, frills, and glitters that exist alongside contrasted spikes, raw edges, and nightmarish textures. They’re often rendered in big sculptural proportions, losing the shape of the body.”

Photo: Courtesy of Tristan Rehel

Last month, all of these motifs and more were on full display when Réhel debuted his first runway show as part of Fashion Art Toronto, a multi-arts fashion week dedicated to creating a more inclusive space. In his collection, titled “Wake Up, It’s Not Real,” were velvet cutout dresses with feathered bonnets, and sculptural ribbon dresses paired with psychedelic face paint. “The collection takes a deep dive into my fever dream world, where each of the models were beautiful and weird creatures,” says Réhel. “I wanted the runway to feel like you were watching a theater play mixed with a fashion show. There were some notes of Dr. Seuss children’s books, queer club culture, and personal family references.”