Paris Fashion Week: Interview with Jean Claude Jitrois the French maestro of leather. (c) Sarah Barreiros.
He appropriated the leather in his creations, diverting and reinterpreting it while dissociating it from a world too masculine to make it live daily on the skin of women and men. Since 40 years, Jitrois leather is unique because it uses the noblest and oldest clothing material used throughout the history of mankind, while working tirelessly to bring improvements that, well beyond a fashion effect, will liberate and transform its uses. In a decade, Jean Claude Jitrois has gone from the black jacket to the haute couture dress in colored leathers, embroidered, with bold volumes or graceful lines. Each decade brings new discoveries, such as stretch leather in the 90s, which Jean Claude developed with Dupont de Nemours. This technological revolution gives full meaning to the expression "second skin". Jitrois stretch leather sublimates the shape, changing the color and the light, protecting and liberating the body, in movement and expression. Each creation becomes unique, adapting to the wearer. Clients love this singularity, which makes each piece unique, cult and timeless. Today I'm taking you to discover or rediscover a House that is very close to my heart, simply because I'm crazy about it! I take you to the wonderful world of Jean-Claude Jitrois, the absolute and undisputed master of leather, the one who sublimates every woman with his creations, the one who didn't wait for the fashion world to make this material a "must have", the one who made glamour his leitmotiv. Because Jean-Claude Jitrois is timeless, modernism and know-how! A team in the image of the leather specialists capable of advising you at a glance on the outfit best suited to your personality and morphology. It would be impossible to understand the spirit of this unique company without knowing more about the artistic director.
We have the pleasure today to meet Yann Patry creative director and Jean Claude Jitrois himself, a kind and artistic character, passionate about people, Mr. Jitrois. He entered the world of fashion in a way that was as atypical as it was noble. Indeed, he began to be interested in clothing, while he was Director of the Institute of Psychomotor Re-education of the Faculty of Medicine of Nice. In 1976, he left the world of psychology for the ready-to-wear industry. In 1983, he opened his emblematic boutique on the rue du Faubourg Saint Honoré and became the absolute symbol of "leather couture". As a precursor and avant-gardist, he created "stretch leather", revolutionizing the fashion world! And he makes it a point of honor to offer only the very best, so his products are 100% French. Interview.
We have the pleasure today to meet Yann Patry creative director and Jean Claude Jitrois himself, a kind and artistic character, passionate about people, Mr. Jitrois. He entered the world of fashion in a way that was as atypical as it was noble. Indeed, he began to be interested in clothing, while he was Director of the Institute of Psychomotor Re-education of the Faculty of Medicine of Nice. In 1976, he left the world of psychology for the ready-to-wear industry. In 1983, he opened his emblematic boutique on the rue du Faubourg Saint Honoré and became the absolute symbol of "leather couture". As a precursor and avant-gardist, he created "stretch leather", revolutionizing the fashion world! And he makes it a point of honor to offer only the very best, so his products are 100% French. Interview.
Interview
Paris Fashion Week: Interview with Jean Claude Jitrois the French maestro of leather. (c) Maison Jitrois.
- Do you remember the very first piece you created?
Yes the very first one, I remember the color first, it was blue. At first I didn't really know what to work with. I found a chamois leather that my father used to wash the car with. It was beige and I dyed it blue in my bathtub with paint balls. The next day it turned blue. I said to myself I will work on this skin and this skin I was already in St Tropez, the blue, the sea. This skin was big enough I cut it in two, I made a knot and I put it on my shoulder with a rope as a belt. I had a young girl wear it and you could see more of the body than the skin. This contrast is in fact a combination of body and mind. As for the dance, it is something that transports you that changes you. This girl went swimming at the beach with her skin dress and in the water the skin color changed again and it was extraordinary!
As for my first leather piece, it was this one in chamois. It was really in the spirit of relationship with the body. Our body is our only way of being in the world. The first breath is the breath of life with the body.
-What inspires you in your creation?
Films inspire me a lot and the street. I have my habits there. Every Sunday for example I go to have breakfast in a restaurant near many. In many I often go to see all the exhibitions that take place there. The mixture of the exhibitions of many, my breakfast and the passing street is my creative force.
- What do you need to give free rein to your creativity?
Freedom like everyone else! I am free, that is to say that my house has not been bought by anyone, it belongs to me and to my collaborators with whom I share the shares of my house, so we are all free.
- Yann Patry you are the creative director of the Maison Jitrois. Can you tell us about the house and about the new collection ?
It is true that in the house there is a notion of freedom and what allows us to create all is that Jean Claudeeaa install a cognitive feeling. He created a house that is very collegial, he is the artistic director that everyone knows, but he gives us all this freedom to contribute and that creates a very strong house, we are all close to each other, but we are also close to journalists, to our customers. It is a house that is in contact with time and in contact with people, it is the house of human.
- Since the opening of your first boutique, and with all the experience accumulated, if this new collection were to be a woman, how would you describe her?
She would be multiple, a mother, an artist, a sportswoman and a dancer!
Yes the very first one, I remember the color first, it was blue. At first I didn't really know what to work with. I found a chamois leather that my father used to wash the car with. It was beige and I dyed it blue in my bathtub with paint balls. The next day it turned blue. I said to myself I will work on this skin and this skin I was already in St Tropez, the blue, the sea. This skin was big enough I cut it in two, I made a knot and I put it on my shoulder with a rope as a belt. I had a young girl wear it and you could see more of the body than the skin. This contrast is in fact a combination of body and mind. As for the dance, it is something that transports you that changes you. This girl went swimming at the beach with her skin dress and in the water the skin color changed again and it was extraordinary!
As for my first leather piece, it was this one in chamois. It was really in the spirit of relationship with the body. Our body is our only way of being in the world. The first breath is the breath of life with the body.
-What inspires you in your creation?
Films inspire me a lot and the street. I have my habits there. Every Sunday for example I go to have breakfast in a restaurant near many. In many I often go to see all the exhibitions that take place there. The mixture of the exhibitions of many, my breakfast and the passing street is my creative force.
- What do you need to give free rein to your creativity?
Freedom like everyone else! I am free, that is to say that my house has not been bought by anyone, it belongs to me and to my collaborators with whom I share the shares of my house, so we are all free.
- Yann Patry you are the creative director of the Maison Jitrois. Can you tell us about the house and about the new collection ?
It is true that in the house there is a notion of freedom and what allows us to create all is that Jean Claudeeaa install a cognitive feeling. He created a house that is very collegial, he is the artistic director that everyone knows, but he gives us all this freedom to contribute and that creates a very strong house, we are all close to each other, but we are also close to journalists, to our customers. It is a house that is in contact with time and in contact with people, it is the house of human.
- Since the opening of your first boutique, and with all the experience accumulated, if this new collection were to be a woman, how would you describe her?
She would be multiple, a mother, an artist, a sportswoman and a dancer!
Jitrois Spring-Summer 23 collection
Paris Fashion Week: Interview with Jean Claude Jitrois the French maestro of leather. (c) Sarah Barreiros.
Nowadays, as the global rhythm of sociality begins to beat more melodically, Jean-Claude Jitrois reflects with enthusiasm on the therapeutic powers found in the art of dressing up. In doing so he propels us towards a more idealised version of ourselves, abstract perhaps but forever real.
The alter ego is an entity one crafts, a personal and sometimes liberating identity that we decide to put forth in the public sphere, but perhaps more dominantly in our intimacy. For his spring-summer 23 collection, leather couturier Jean-Claude Jitrois invites us all on a journey of discovery and creation opening the doors to a privileged relation with his audience.
The collection was developed around the concept of the Jean-Claude’ “second skin, second self” mantra, building on key references from Jitrois’ rich and extensive archive to project modern avant-garde yet wearable inter-connected garments that unzip to showcase dynamic and daring silhouettes.
Jitrois’ world-famous stretch leather lambkin gets a bold and bright renewal in the form of short cut-out embroidered gilet’s, cropped asymmetric tops, bright coloured micro-mini-skirts and exposed zipped fronted flared trousers. Dresses and jumpsuits take note from the 70’s disco era with cinched waist detailing, plunging neck lines and thigh grazing hems. The menswear follows suit with hyper sexy black metallic micro shorts, fitted biker pants, bondage inspired sleeveless vests and multi coloured eyeleted harnesses.
The house’ iconic second skin black stretch leather plays harmoniously with luminescent tones of metallic blue and black, vivid flashes of ultramarine blue, cyclamen, sky blue, lime green and candy apple red alongside familiar tones of blood red, lemon yellow, kaki green and white.
As a designer and a psychotherapist, Jean Claude Jitrois gifts us the tools to create our very own alter ego, in a safe arena constructed to express ourselves. A better self for a better world, reset yourself. Combining technology and fashion like no other, Jean-Claude Jitrois offers us, season after season, out of time and gorgeous collections.
Creative direction
Jean-Claude Jitrois
Style by
Jay Wilson Tristan Van Bruwaene Emilie Griere Mylene Colona
Video directed by
Céline Rey
Dop / lighting
Elisa Petersen
Sound design
Scratcha DVA (featuring Calista Kazuko)
Hair & make-up
Violette LHT
Models
Heloise Giraud Masha Voronina Sofia Silvanas Charles Leto May Dillion Oscar Delmas
Sunglasses
Polette Eyewear
Jewellery
Marc Deloche
Shoes
T.U.K. Footwear
The alter ego is an entity one crafts, a personal and sometimes liberating identity that we decide to put forth in the public sphere, but perhaps more dominantly in our intimacy. For his spring-summer 23 collection, leather couturier Jean-Claude Jitrois invites us all on a journey of discovery and creation opening the doors to a privileged relation with his audience.
The collection was developed around the concept of the Jean-Claude’ “second skin, second self” mantra, building on key references from Jitrois’ rich and extensive archive to project modern avant-garde yet wearable inter-connected garments that unzip to showcase dynamic and daring silhouettes.
Jitrois’ world-famous stretch leather lambkin gets a bold and bright renewal in the form of short cut-out embroidered gilet’s, cropped asymmetric tops, bright coloured micro-mini-skirts and exposed zipped fronted flared trousers. Dresses and jumpsuits take note from the 70’s disco era with cinched waist detailing, plunging neck lines and thigh grazing hems. The menswear follows suit with hyper sexy black metallic micro shorts, fitted biker pants, bondage inspired sleeveless vests and multi coloured eyeleted harnesses.
The house’ iconic second skin black stretch leather plays harmoniously with luminescent tones of metallic blue and black, vivid flashes of ultramarine blue, cyclamen, sky blue, lime green and candy apple red alongside familiar tones of blood red, lemon yellow, kaki green and white.
As a designer and a psychotherapist, Jean Claude Jitrois gifts us the tools to create our very own alter ego, in a safe arena constructed to express ourselves. A better self for a better world, reset yourself. Combining technology and fashion like no other, Jean-Claude Jitrois offers us, season after season, out of time and gorgeous collections.
Creative direction
Jean-Claude Jitrois
Style by
Jay Wilson Tristan Van Bruwaene Emilie Griere Mylene Colona
Video directed by
Céline Rey
Dop / lighting
Elisa Petersen
Sound design
Scratcha DVA (featuring Calista Kazuko)
Hair & make-up
Violette LHT
Models
Heloise Giraud Masha Voronina Sofia Silvanas Charles Leto May Dillion Oscar Delmas
Sunglasses
Polette Eyewear
Jewellery
Marc Deloche
Shoes
T.U.K. Footwear
Wanderlust Chronicles: Life, Fashion, Travel, and Art as a Professional Figure Skater and Lifestyle Journalist
