* uN NOUvEAU iDEAL by fILEP mOTWARY

 Jean Jeacques Picart is a man who has achieved more than he expected .His career seems like a dream if you put down all the names he collaborated with…Among many, in the 70’s his work for brands is varied as Thierry Mugler, Cacharel, Shiseido, Emanuel Ungaro, Ferragamo, Kenzo, Hermés, Levi’s, Chloé, Jil Sander and Helmut Lang., he was the PR for maison Jean Patou in the 80’s, worked as designer partner with Christian Lacroix  for the Couture section.... Today , he is bringing his wealth of experience in fashion industry communications and public relations a current freelance consulting business, whose clients include both young designers and well-established companies. Among them LVMH…

fiLEpMotwaRy:Do you think that “one chooses his path of life” depending on the influences he has from childhood or is it some sort of decision we take based on personal choices? jeanJaCquesPicArt:We’re all born, and we all die equal. It’s in between that lie the nuances: the capacity that each of us has, or not, for anticipating, adapting, optimising or simply enduring a given set of circumstances such as education, acquaintances or events. It’s not in the hand you’re dealt, but in the cards you play that you seal your fate. fM:Which is the moment you conceder as the highlight of your career? JjP: It’s hard to say, because I’ve never felt as though I was at the top of my game. The visionaries that I’ve been fortunate enough to work with - Thierry Mugler, Christian Lacroix, Jean Louis Dumas Hermès, Jil Sander, Helmut Lang, Hedi Slimane, Bernard Arnault, together with all the other less bold-faced greats  - have always lit the way for me. Fm: Today you are maybe the “top fashion consultant” of Paris and not only. Did you ever imagine that you would reach this level?jJp:Absolutely not. I received no training, and never had a particular passion for fashion. I was always positively fascinated by people.  The interaction. Fashion remaining to a large extent an open discussion, it was quite naturally that I was drawn to the dynamics of such an exchange.Fm:  Are you “cruel” with young designers? What are you looking for when you view their portfolios?Jjp:I never cheat, and seldom lie. I listen empathetically to what the designer has to say, while remaining steadfastly compos mentis. Call it ‘cruelty’, or call it respect. When a designer comes to see me, I try to pinpoint his singularities, the scope of his creative vision, and his openness to others. Fm:Do you believe in talent? Is it enough nowadays? JjP:Talent is an essential ingredient that requires a good cook. At the end of the day, it’s all in the mix. Fm: Apart from your private consulting office you are also a consultant for Mr. Bernard Arnault of LVMH. Does the future of fashion actually depend on LVMH? JjP: The two are inextricably linked, Monsieur Arnault being one of fashion’s key players. His responsibilities are those of a state leader, and his decisions loom large. Having said that, LVMH may well be the world’s largest luxury goods conglomerate, but there are many others. The future of fashion belongs to each and every one of the field’s many players, however small their input may be. ?fM  How was your collaboration with Mr Lacroix. Was there a happy ending? Jjp:My collaboration with Lacroix was fusional, in every sense of the word. And although our destinies drew us apart professionally, I’m proud and overjoyed that we parted on such good terms and have managed to remain such close friends. Fm: What is “iDEal” for you Mr Picart? Jjp:Treading the fine line between a rewarding professional situation and a fulfilling personal life.

tHANK you Mr Picart

 

reproduction of this interview is not allowed without my acceptance.

Filep