After watching the very brilliant film The Eight Mountains by Felix van Groeningen and Charlotte Vandermeersch, my mind instantly returned to Rier – the fashion brand that has its roots in the Alps. The label was established in 2018, based on a long research of different craftsmen, artisans, small family-run businesses and various fabric suppliers throughout Austria, Italy and France. The focus of Rier is on natural materials, timeless quality, handcrafted items and a completely unisex wardrobe (take the wool fleece hoodies or velvet jackets embroidered with alpine flowers). Andreas Steiner is the owner and founder, and his label’s aesthetic is deeply personal, as the designer himself was raised in the South Tyrolean Alps. At Rier, timelessness takes a central role. In respect of nature and a more conscious consumer behavior, all designs have to respect longevity, aesthetically and quality wise. Rier finds inspiration in the South Tyrolean countryside lifestyle and the contemporary urban environment. The appreciation for nature, heritage and savoir-faire take a central role in the working process of the brand, while pushing gender boundaries and the disruption of traditional codes. Rier’s aim is to safeguard the incredible know-how and technical skills that are locally available – and often underrated.  As the designer sums it up, “I love the freedom of disrupting traditions and conferring a new and free spirited mindset to this historical items, shifting them in time and location between city and countryside.” Ultimate must-haves from the 2023 collection? The boots made in collaboration with historical Viennese shoe manufacturer Ludwig Reiter and all the accessories crafted by a local South Tyrolean artist according to century-old leather working techniques.

Collage by Edward Kanarecki.
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