Julien Fournié

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Julien Fournié is a French fashion designer who was the last creative director of the Paris-based haute couture fashion house Torrente. In 2008, he was named Creative Director for womenswear, menswear and accessories at another French house, Ramosport, the Parisian brand specializing in "casual chic" for womenswear and menswear.

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[edit] Early life

Julien Fournié
Julien Fournié

With a Castilian mother and a French father, fashion flows in Julien Fournié’s blood. One set of grandparents were tanners: his genetic inheritance from them was a taste for fine materials. His grandmother on the other side of the family was a lingerie seamstress and corset maker: she instilled in him the importance of always producing your best work. He also learned from his father – an optician – about accessories and innovative shapes.

From the age of three Julien’s favourite toy was the crayon, his favourite pastime, drawing. They were to become his outstanding talents and his strongest weapons. Very soon, he was colouring in - and then sketching - his favourite subject: princesses! Away from this fairytale world, school and regular piano practice taught him discipline and rigour.

[edit] Fashion career

At the age of 18, it was time to choose a career path. Julien Fournié initially decided to study medicine and took a degree in Biology. After two years he changed career to study fashion, continuing his studies at the Ecole de la Chambre Syndicale de la Couture Parisienne graduating in 2000. On his graduation day, Paris Fashion 2000 awarded him with the Moet & Chandon Prize for best accessories. During those three years of study and the necessary apprenticeship that followed, he worked at several fashion houses to develop his skills. After gaining early experience at Nina Ricci, he moved on first at Christian Dior, where he worked on accessories with Jean Mouclier, then at Givenchy haute couture.

He was starting a spell at Céline when Jean-Paul Gaultier hired him as an assistant designer in haute couture. He was entrusted with researching materials and designing embroidery trims for the Autumn/Winter 2001/2002 collection. He also got to work on the stage costumes for a Madonna tour. At the end of 2001, he joined the Claude Montana studio as a stylist in ready-to-wear and accessories. There, he developed collections of bags, scarves, luggage and jewelry.

In late Summer 2003, at the age of 28, he was recruited by Torrente as Style Director for their ready-to-wear collections. In early September, before his first show for the Torrente had even taken place, the management committee voted to appoint him creative director. He has since taken over the duties of Madame Torrente-Mett. ! After advising several ready-to-wear brands in Asia, and particularly in South Korea, as well as in the fields of accesories in France (Charles Jourdan), he was appointed in early 2008 Creative Director at another French house, Ramosport, the Parisian brand, specializing in "casual chic" for womenswear and menswear.

[edit] Critical Reaction

The Agence France-Presse credits him with "the creative turn" of the brand, and Madame Figaro welcomed his "marriage with long-gone elegance." According to L`Officiel 1000 Modèles magazine, "his realistic style at the service of ladies" reckons his "new entry in the top chart of Paris designers."

[edit] Illustration

Illustrations
Illustrations

As an illustrator, he takes part in several projects. An American fashion website asked him to cover the Olympus Fashion Week for Spring 2006 in New York. He illustrated each runway show that he attended for the site. Bigger formats also appeal to him and he gets to paint on canvas. A series of nine paintings entitled "Women with Weapons" is being realized now.

[edit] External links


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Grands couturiers
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