You already know the work of local artist Stephen Louis Lange—that is, if you’ve dined at Doc Chey or Savoy under the large, lacquered black-and-red mandalas. But, until recently, few (including Lange himself) would have considered the artist to be a fashion designer.
“I am an avid cyclist and I find things on the side of the road all the time,” he says of the inspiration for his first piece of wearable sculpture. While found objects are atypical of high fashion, the designer has no problem classifying his work as haute couture (the French term generally refers to fashions custom sewn and hand-finished from expensive fabrics). And when one of his creations sold for more than $800 at a charity auction to benefit lupus research, Lange realized he had an audience for his avant-garde gowns.
“These dresses are made to be worn as well as being hung on a wall,” the designer notes. Part of his collection was shown at Context (62 Haywood St.) last weekend; more can be seen here or by making an appointment with Lange. Visit his online studio at langeart.com.
— Photos by Yve Adams
