Riposte is a lifestyle brand that enhances our sense of belonging, thanks to its genuine designs made by local street-artists, printed or embroidered on clothes made of organic fabrics. Our motto: Reliable fashion, Local soul.
The brand was founded in May 2019 by Nicolas Riviere, a French entrepreneur based in Miami. The name of the brand needed to have meaning in French and in English. The exact definition of Riposte is a quick and clever remark, often made to answer a criticism, which is clearly related to the origin of street-art (which was called graffiti back then).
Riposte tackles 3 issues:
Issue #1: Pollution caused by the clothing industry: After the petrol industry, fashion is the second most polluting industry in the world. For example, in 2015, the pollution from producing polyester depleted the planet as much as nearly 200 coal power plants. Riposte #1: The use of organic cotton: GMO-free fibre that uses less water than standard cotton. In addition, its production does not involve the use of chemicals (no fertiliser or pesticide) and encourages rotation of crops to keep soil healthier, more fertile and maintain humidity. Waste from the cotton ginning process is also recycled for the animal feed industry.
Issue #2: Street-artists financial sustainability: What really makes street artists, is that they are expressing their art for free. Riposte #2: Collaboration with street-artists: Thanks to its partnership with local street artists for genuine designs Riposte creates a new financial opportunity for them, to make sure that street-artists are financially sustainable to ensure their abilities to keep doing their art for free and for all. It is key for them and for the neighborhoods true colors.
Issue #3: The wearing of apparels as strong as our sense of belonging: Today cities identities are almost exclusively linked to tourisms and local sports team. The fashion that currently exists for tourists is less appealing. It is the traditional palm tree or beach-scape that every other city can have and looks similar. It is interchangeable, often poorly designed, and it is not unique in any way. Concerning the clothes related to sports team, what if the local team has bad results? What if the team moves to another city? The name of the city would be deeply impacted.
Riposte #3: Identities redefinition thanks to art: The collaboration with street-artists of different cities allows to get the essence of each one of them. It is the evolution of art and sustainable fashion combined that make us truly unique. The development of this company has been fueled by the discovery of new street-artists, their vision and the type of creativity that they are able to bring to simple ideas. That similar thrill is the one Riposte shares with its clients. These garments are more than fashion, they are an artistic experience.
What moves this company further along, are people in the sustainable fashion world and street-artists with the vision to reimagine cities in a whole new way. The adventure has just started! This is why after this first collection about Miami, Riposte will enhance the way of belonging of its clients in cities across the US (New-York, Los Angeles…) and the world (Paris, Rio…)
