From Johnny Hallyday to Beyoncé, Gong Li, Nathalie Baye and Lady Gaga, Jean-Claude Jitrois has dressed them all over his 25 years in the leather business.
By Maëlle Brun
In 1976, in the centre of Nice, Jean-Claude Jitrois opened his first shop. Others were to follow very rapidly in Juan-Les-Pins and Saint-Tropez. Their success was immediate. Born in Narbonne, his family moved to Paris in the 1960s. However, at this time Jean-Claude was far from the universe of luxury that later would shape his life. Originally, he studied psychology at La Salpêtrière, and knew little of what fashion meant. However, his father, an officer in the French air force, left an indelible mark on his son… that of his leather flying jacket.
In those days, leather evoked an image of virile heroism; he turned it into the heights of femininity. And the Jitrois appeal was a success right from the start, quickly seducing stars. In Nice, he befriended artists such as César, Ben and Niki de Saint-Phalle, and was soon selling his creations to Elton John, Cher and Caroline of Monaco. For twenty-five years he has remained a favourite among the stars. In 1995, he introduced stretch leather, the ultimate in a second skin that hugs all the curves of the body.
A few years later, in 2009, he personally imagined washable and ironable leather, a major event in the world of fashion. Innovative and aesthetic creations remain the priority for this designer. And the 2013/14 autumn-winter collection perpetuates this with audacity and elegance.
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