Me & Jean-Pierre

I am ashamed to admit that until recently, I didn’t actually know a great deal about Jean-Pierre Braganza. I’d heard of him, obviously, but before seeing his show at LFW this season had never taken the time to find out much about the young designer or taken a good, long look at his work. Well, after witnessing the futuristic, urban warriors strut Jean-Pierre sent strutting down the runway I decided it was high time I took a closer look at this rising fashion star. Even in an industry where those that succeed do so as a result of extraordinary talent, Jean-Pierre’s story stands out. The designer grew up in Canada where he planned to study Fine Art until one day he realised that his true calling was in fact fashion. Jean-Pierre then began his sartorial studies at Canada’s foremost fashion college before moving to London where he was immediately accepted into the second year of Central Saint Martin’s uber prestigious Womenswear course under “special circumstances” due to his advanced skill. Immediately after graduation Jean-Pierre went to work for Roland Mouret where he perfected his tailoring skills and eye for detail before going on to launch his eponymous line in 2003. Since then, the talented young designer has simply gone from strength to strength with his designs gracing the editorials of every worthwile fash mag under the sun and being stocked all over the world.

Whilst his AW11 collection, and indeed his whole design aesthetic could not be more different to my own personal style, I LOVED Jean-Pierre’s fabulously fierce show and after meeting the man himself at the British Designer Collective launch, fell a little bit in love with him too.

LPA: What was the inspiration behind your AW11 collection?

JPB: Me.

LPA: Do you design with a specific woman or character in mind?

JPB: No, I love all women. All shapes, all sizes, all ages… I just love women.

Jean-Pierre Braganza AW11

LPA: If you could see anyone, dead or alive, wearing your clothes who would it be? 

JPG: Princess Diana… No, Grace Kelly…No, Janice Joplin and Kurt Cobain…

LPA: What are your hopes and aims for 2011? 

JPB: World peace… And to survive the year.

Jean-Pierre Braganza AW11

Now while many people may write the fashion world off as being uber bitchy and full of truly terrible individuals, during my short time in the industry I really haven’t found that at all. I’m not pretending it’s all rainbows and roses and yes, there are a few absolute shits around, but generally speaking most of the industry insiders I have met and worked with have been really rather nice. Whilst there is a fair bit of “dahhhhling”fakery, the majority of fashion faces I have encounted have fallen into two camps – down-to-earth, decent and really rather normal or outrageous characters with larger-than-life personalities. In case you hadn’t already guessed, Jean-Pierre falls into the latter catagory and can put away multiple Bellini’s (at 10′o clock in the morning!) with the best of them.

Love Ella. X