In light of the new, upcoming Jacquemus X Nike collaboration, let’s take a look at the Provençal designer, Jacquemus. The French fashion house might not have been around as long as some of the biggest names of fashion, but it has surely made its mark in the past decade. Created by Simon Porte Jacquemus, the exquisite talent of Paris has proven his spot in the industry. From breaking the internet with pink catwalks to setting the infamous tiny bag trend, Jacquemus knows how to rise to the top.
Simon Porte Jacquemus was born in 1990 in the south of France. Growing up in the countryside, his parents were both farmers which is often said to have greatly influenced his design choices. Jacquemus moved to the world’s capital of fashion at just 19 to explore his desires as a designer. However, the excitement was short-lived, as the young creative faced tragedy to find out his mother has passed away in a car accident at only 42 years old. The woman who continues to inspire and drive his passions today, he started his renowned fashion house, Jacquemus in honour of his mother. Named after his mother’s maiden name, at only 19 years old, after 1 month in Pairs, Jacquemus took a leap of faith as he mourned the light of his life.
Jacquemus created and expanded on his own collections in his personal time, as he began learning the ins and outs of the industry at the Comme Des Garcons store on Rue du Faubourg Saint-Honoré. Adrian Joffe, husband of Comme des Garcons’ founder remembers the young designer from a collection he once showed in a Tokyo showroom. The established eye for talent instantly sought out the innovative talent in Jacquemus, “I recognized immediately a freshness and an originality, but most important a strong vision. I have never met anyone so determined, so grounded, and so clear in his head about what he wants to do and what he wants to achieve.” It was here the pair supported him by offering the job to help out in the CDG Paris store. His role here inspired him for forever to come but also allowed him to finance his own collections to show during the Paris RTW fashion week.
The motivated designer went on to run his own fashion brand at just 21 years of age. In 2014 he was a finalist for the LMVH’S Prise for Young Designers and in 2015 received his first award for the LMVH Special jury prize. His minimalistic take on Parisian fashion inspired by his roots of southern France, brought a fresh take to fashion and the world was noticing. His work is often described as deconstructed and surrealist, as his striking silhouettes and trendsetting moments were all the fashion industry could speak about. In 2017 the designer debuted the first of his revolutionary micro handbags Le Chiquito. Which undoubtedly ended up in the arms of A-listers like of Kim Kardashian and Rhianna. The start of the tiny bag trend that broke the internet. His incredible colour scheme, creative designs and minimal aesthetic set a name for himself in the industry. In the same year he was also noticed by the world’s biggest online and department store retailers, from Selfridges to Net-A-Porter. His graceful approach to pushing the boundaries of prestigious French fashion has gained him the respect of the industry insiders. In 2018 he expanded his fashion house into menswear which was instantly embraced by the industry. His undeniable success dominating social media is no secret. Jacquemus’ establishment in the industry was not only down to beautifully crafted garments and A-listers but also to his strive to connect and offer a unique take on his Instagram.
Today Jacquemus is known for being a trendsetter, a more affordable and accessible luxury option and his minimalist yet bold collections. He runs a strong social media presence of playful videos, reels and catwalk images, creating constant iconic insta moments. His shows are not one to miss, from white horses and wheat fields to hot-pink runways, we see some of the biggest models from Kendal Jenner to Gigi Hadid.
Launching new collections and silhouettes of bags the industry has never seen before ad gaining more media attention than ever before, we are excited to continue to watch him grow as the iconic designer he has become.
