Chic Canvas with Vivre Couture

You probably own a dress made of silk or chiffon, but have you ever owned a piece of clothing made from canvas? That’s the idea behind VIVRE Couture, a luxury fashion and accessories line started by Stuart resident Kristen Alyce. The designer uses primed artist canvas, which she manipulates into various flattering shapes. Each piece is one of a kind and custom made for each client, which typically involves three to five fittings when handling couture pieces. It all starts with a sketch; once the client approves the sketch, Alyce creates the pattern and cuts it on the fabrics and canvas. Then, says Alyce, “our talented seamstresses sew the garment together in a very specific way as to not damage the integrity of the canvas.” Once it has been fitted to the client, the piece is passed along to an artist for painting. In addition to clothing, the line also includes weekender bags, bowties and neckties, handbags, and passport holders. Alyce’s latest launch is her Red Rose collection—perfect for the season of love—available in skirts, tops, and even a deep-V ballgown, which Alyce says took 80 hours to complete and features five layers of metal hoops to keep its shape.