The studio is located in a dead end in the east of Paris, not far from the Gare de Lyon. When you open the door with its peeling blue paint, you enter a small, light-filled courtyard, where a steep staircase on the left leads up to the first-floor studio. It’s hot. The light in the room, with its rough wooden floors and untreated walls, is unique. Soft, one might say. We meet Stefan Rappo: bald, glasses, shorts appropriate for the weather. Unpretentious, maybe even pragmatic, but passionate and tireless in his enthusiasm for the light in the studio and with a subtlety when it comes to creating and capturing movement in his photos. Qualities hinted at by his aesthetic nude series.
Stefan Rappo discovered his talent for photography late. At the age of 30, he gave up his job as a designer and constructor of heavy forestry machines and left Switzerland to study at the École de la Photographie in Toulouse. After graduating in 2004, he moved to Paris, where he joined the PIN UP Studios as a studio assistant. He discovered the world of professional photography, worked on countless commercial productions, and developed his passion for image creation. After working with renowned fashion photographers such as Camilla Åkrans and Bruno Aveillan, he spent eight years collaborating with the world-famous photographer Peter Lindbergh, who passed away in 2019. This collaboration, marked by a passion for creativity and dedication to photography, led to a deep friendship that influences his style. Stefan Rappo's photographs are regularly published internationally in German and British Vogue, W Magazine, MAX Magazine, and GQ France.
Within three hours, a photo series by Stefan Rennicke (KAYA&KATO) and Bernd Keller is created in the Parisian studio, marking the start of a photo shoot for the new KAYA&KATO customer collection developed together, which will take place later this year. The collection was designed by Bernd Keller, former Creative Director Apparel at Puma, Director Sportswear at HUGO BOSS, and COO of the fashion company Marc O'Polo. KAYA&KATO also contributed to the design, incorporating their workwear expertise. This combination shows that fashion and workwear can complement each other and create something new.
The inspiring and friendly collaboration has also reinforced the idea that workwear should be presented with more value. New and surprising facets must be showcased. The increasing demands of the future wearers of the clothing underline this claim. Workwear is no longer just workwear but has a claim to fashion - only more timeless and durable.
Web: stefan-rappo.com
Author: Stefan Rennicke
Photo credit: Stefan Rappo