Jean-Paul Lespagnard makes a point of pushing open the doors of gift shops, regardless of whether his travels are real or imaginary. Amazed by what he sees, he grabs whatever enchants or repulses him with eager hands. With his characteristically cheerful audacity, this designer is not afraid of overkill, let alone immersion, and excludes nothing. All the objects he has collected then go into in orbit, forming their own kaleidoscopic constellation: endless combinations, harmonious concoctions, unique renditions. This truck driver’s son, born in Harzé on April 5th, 1979, first became acquainted with the plastic arts, then fell in love with pop art and neo-pop, culminating with Baroque, in all its myriad forms.
In 2008, in a completely natural and logical step, he founded his eponymous fashion label. His wardrobe is rooted in popular culture, village traditions, the MTV of the 90s, his Walloon roots, exoticism, contemporary dance, Jeff Koons, Wim Delvoye, Paul McCarthy, art brut and his underlying insatiable curiosity which fuels it all by capillarity – Abracadabra! However, we won’t just classify him as a «fashion designer», as Jean-Paul has vowed not to be typecast in any way, this is a visceral thing – the endless favouring of an approach devoid of judgement or forethought. Beginner’s luck holds no secrets for him.
Welcome to his world!
By Anne-Françoise Moyson,
journalist for the Vif Weekend.
