Julien Fournié
Encyclopedia
Julien Fournié is a French fashion designer and CEO of his own eponymous haute couture
company founded in the summer of 2009. Previously, he 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 Ramosport.
mother and a French father. One set of grandparents were tanners. His other grandmother was a lingerie seamstress and corset maker. From the age of three Julien’s favourite toy was the crayon, his favourite pastime: drawing.
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 apprenticeship, he worked at fashion houses to develop his skills. After experience at Nina Ricci, he moved to Christian Dior
, where he worked on accessories with Jean Mouclier, then at Givenchy
haute couture.
He was starting to work 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 Rose Torrente-Mett. After advising several ready-to-wear brands in Asia, and particularly in South Korea, as well as in the fields of accessories in France (Charles Jourdan), he was appointed in early 2008 Creative Director at another French house, Ramosport, a Parisian brand specializing in "casual chic" for womenswear and menswear. When Ramosport was bought as a company by the Groupe Georges Rech in September 2008, Julien Fournié decided it was time to create his own brand, bearing his own name.
The Chambre Syndicale de la Haute Couture Française, the governing body of the French fashion industry, granted Julien Fournié in January 2011 the guest member status, which allows the Julien Fournié brand to bear the “Haute Couture
” label and participate in the Paris Haute Couture fashion week.
Haute couture
Haute couture refers to the creation of exclusive custom-fitted clothing. Haute couture is made to order for a specific customer, and it is usually made from high-quality, expensive fabric and sewn with extreme attention to detail and finished by the most experienced and capable seamstresses,...
company founded in the summer of 2009. Previously, he was the last Creative Director of the Paris-based haute couture
Haute couture
Haute couture refers to the creation of exclusive custom-fitted clothing. Haute couture is made to order for a specific customer, and it is usually made from high-quality, expensive fabric and sewn with extreme attention to detail and finished by the most experienced and capable seamstresses,...
fashion house
Fashion design
Fashion design is the art of the application of design and aesthetics or natural beauty to clothing and accessories. Fashion design is influenced by cultural and social latitudes, and has varied over time and place. Fashion designers work in a number of ways in designing clothing and accessories....
Torrente
Torrente
Torrente may refer to:* Torrent, Valencia, a municipality located within the metropolitan area of the city of the Spanish city Valencia* Torrente , a Parisian haute couture fashion house founded by designer Rosette Torrente-Mett in 1969; current creative director Julien Fournie* Gonzalo Torrente...
. In 2008, he was named Creative Director for womenswear, menswear and accessories at Ramosport.
Early life
Julien has a CastilianCastile (historical region)
A former kingdom, Castile gradually merged with its neighbours to become the Crown of Castile and later the Kingdom of Spain when united with the Crown of Aragon and the Kingdom of Navarre...
mother and a French father. One set of grandparents were tanners. His other grandmother was a lingerie seamstress and corset maker. From the age of three Julien’s favourite toy was the crayon, his favourite pastime: drawing.
Fashion career
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 ParisienneFédération française de la couture
The Fédération française de la couture, du prêt-à-porter des couturiers et des créateurs de mode is the French fashion industry governing clothing. The Federation was created in 1973, growing out of an older trade union , the Chambre syndicale de la haute couture parisienne which was created in...
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 apprenticeship, he worked at fashion houses to develop his skills. After experience at Nina Ricci, he moved to Christian Dior
Christian Dior
Christian Dior , was a French fashion designer, best known as the founder of one of the world's top fashion houses, also called Christian Dior.-Life:...
, where he worked on accessories with Jean Mouclier, then at Givenchy
Givenchy
Givenchy is a French brand of clothing, accessories, perfumes and cosmetics with Parfums Givenchy.The house of Givenchy was founded in 1952 by designer Hubert de Givenchy and is a member of Chambre Syndicale de la Haute Couture et du Pret-a-Porter...
haute couture.
He was starting to work at Céline
Celine (brand)
Céline is a French luxury house founded in 1945 by Céline Vipiana. Today, it is an international luxury goods brand owned by LVMH, purchased in 1996 for 2.7 billion French francs ....
when Jean-Paul Gaultier
Jean-Paul Gaultier
Jean Paul Gaultier , born 24 April 1952 in Arcueil, Val-de-Marne, France) is a French haute couture fashion designer. Gaultier was the creative director of Hermès from 2003 to 2010. In the past, he has hosted the television series Eurotrash....
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
Madonna (entertainer)
Madonna is an American singer-songwriter, actress and entrepreneur. Born in Bay City, Michigan, she moved to New York City in 1977 to pursue a career in modern dance. After performing in the music groups Breakfast Club and Emmy, she released her debut album in 1983...
tour. At the end of 2001, he joined the Claude Montana
Claude Montana
Claude Montana is a French fashion designer. His company, The House of Montana, founded in 1979, went bankrupt in 1997.Born in Paris in 1949 to a Catalonian father and German mother, Montana began his career by designing papier-mâché jewelry covered with rhinestones...
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
Torrente
Torrente may refer to:* Torrent, Valencia, a municipality located within the metropolitan area of the city of the Spanish city Valencia* Torrente , a Parisian haute couture fashion house founded by designer Rosette Torrente-Mett in 1969; current creative director Julien Fournie* Gonzalo Torrente...
as Style Director for their ready-to-wear collections. In early September, before his first show for the Torrente
Torrente
Torrente may refer to:* Torrent, Valencia, a municipality located within the metropolitan area of the city of the Spanish city Valencia* Torrente , a Parisian haute couture fashion house founded by designer Rosette Torrente-Mett in 1969; current creative director Julien Fournie* Gonzalo Torrente...
had even taken place, the management committee voted to appoint him creative director. He has since taken over the duties of Madame Rose Torrente-Mett. After advising several ready-to-wear brands in Asia, and particularly in South Korea, as well as in the fields of accessories in France (Charles Jourdan), he was appointed in early 2008 Creative Director at another French house, Ramosport, a Parisian brand specializing in "casual chic" for womenswear and menswear. When Ramosport was bought as a company by the Groupe Georges Rech in September 2008, Julien Fournié decided it was time to create his own brand, bearing his own name.
The Chambre Syndicale de la Haute Couture Française, the governing body of the French fashion industry, granted Julien Fournié in January 2011 the guest member status, which allows the Julien Fournié brand to bear the “Haute Couture
Haute couture
Haute couture refers to the creation of exclusive custom-fitted clothing. Haute couture is made to order for a specific customer, and it is usually made from high-quality, expensive fabric and sewn with extreme attention to detail and finished by the most experienced and capable seamstresses,...
” label and participate in the Paris Haute Couture fashion week.