Jean-Paul Lespagnard

1 Heeled clogs / Wood

For his first Paris presentation, Jean-Paul developed a heeled wooden shoe with a clog-maker based in Alsace, France. Visually surprising yet comfortable, these shoes got produced in a limited edition of 50 pairs.

2 Green Skirt Silhouette / Technical fabric

Presented at Nissim De Camondo Museum, this collection is a mix between two Mexican subcultures: the Mennonite and the Cholombianos. Creating a hybrid between these two traditions, the pieces are cutted to transform between sizes, from XS to 5XL, crafted in textiles that are also developed by Jean-Paul and his team.

3 Detail of a silhouette / Technical fabric

Coordinated skirt and jacket. The fabric is a technical development by Jean-Paul Lespagnard, first graphically printed on a flat surface, then re-woven with a 3D effect.

4 Hat / Straw and cotton thread

Specially designed for its Paris show, The F.B.T.A. straw hat is a combination of 2 opposite influences: African ceremonial wear and the Unesco Masterpiece of Heritage of Humanity Carnival of Binche in Belgium. The collection is a statement about exotic traditions in the contemporary world.

5 Image caption from Shanghai fashion week show

Jean-Paul Lespagnard has taken part in many fashion events around the world: China, Japan, Korea, Spain, France, Belgium, Switzerland and India, among others.

6 Butcher shop season campaign

Le Savoir-Faire collection highlights the origin of materials and how things are made. Drawing an off-beat parallel between fashion and food, Jean-Paul juxtaposed two daily savoir-faires in a fusion of the two arts of butchery and couture, with minute details like glass beaded sausages. This collection was the first of a two-season collaboration with trendy ugly-shoes brand Z-Coil.

7 Jewellery / Metal, crystals & recycled PVC

This brooch from the Till We Drop collection instantly became a classic in Jean-Paul Lespagnard’s permanent collection. Playing with Italian luxry production and pop culture, this jewel mixes Swarovski crystals with the signature Jean-Paul Lespagnard PVC branding.

8 Red hooker soles with climbing ropes

Jean-Paul takes his former muse Jacqueline on a high-altitude voyage, to meet the man of her dream, Cliffhanger superhero Sylvester Stallone. In this crafted pair of shoes, Jean-Paul plays with cliché materials, connected to sexual fantasy and rock climbing.

9 Image caption from Paris fashion week show

Oversized garments like coats, jackets and parkas are a big part of the JPL bestsellers. The brand is known for its easy cuts, graphic patterns, fabric developments and cheeky but practical accessories.

10 Bejewelled iPhone case / Recycled PVC and Crystals

A typical JPL accessory, this phone case, handcrafted in sheltered workshops in Belgium, is a bestseller in the Japanese, Korean and Chinese market.

11 Image caption from Paris fashion show

Visionary and progressive, the no-seating show setting was a shock for most of the fashion journalists who came to the presentation.

1 Details

Of the multi-functional shelf/workstation.

2 Details

Of the multi-functional pattern-making/moodboard station.
For the economy of functionality, Jean-Paul Lespagnard used raw materials such as galvanized metal, MDF and cotton canvas to design his creative studio. Interchangeable at will, this 300 sq/m platform offers a multitude of settings that adapt to the different times of creation and production during his projects.

3 “Fake” entrance view of the store

For this project, situated in the historical city centre of Brussels, Jean-Paul played with an «outside / inside» feeling. First, he changed the street facade to a giant window that fully opens during operating hours. This trick created the impression that the store was at the end of a street market. Next, Jean-Paul got the same producer who had crafted the pavements used in the neighbourhood streets to connect the first part of the store to the outside even more.

4 Backside view of the Store

With the desire to bring his creative studio energy to the public, Jean-Paul kept the raw aspect of it. Concrete ceiling, light-coloured walls, polished concrete on the floor and the same multi-functional shelves. He then added large mirror surfaces to reflect the colours of the goods and the people visiting the space.

5 Reception hall

6 Working alcove

The Silversquare Co-working Space is situated between the Guillemin train station and the Boverie Contemporary Museum of Art. In this environment, Jean-Paul created a 5000sq/m design inspired by transport, import/export, and exchanging of ideas and knowledge. Many crafters (locals and internationals) were involved in the project.

1 Reading chair / Metal and wood

For his first collaboration with J&J, the Brussels-based metal workshop, Jean-Paul was inspired by the Marseillaise origins of its owner, Jean Angelat. This reading chair is covered with a readymade bead seating pad, which is very popular in family cars in the South of France.

2 Lantern bag / Recycled PVC and crystals

Or the maatjes collection, Jean-Paul Lespagnard imagined a woman obsessed with motocross. Who gets dressed to join her lover as he returns from fishing for a type of herring called maatjes. This formed the back story for the design of a contemporary lantern bag.

3 Paperweight / Recycled Aluminium

With brass plating.

4 Decorative set proposal

For corporate meeting rooms at Hotel de Merode, Brussels.

5 Screenshot

From Angele’s Instagram

6 Eccentric mirror / Recycled glass

These pieces are made with a derivation of the mouth-blown glass bowl process. Jean-Paul stopped the blowing in the middle of the crafting process, resulting in free-organic shapes. After that, a mirroring technique was added as a final touch.

7 Tableware collection in ceramic, terracotta and glass

This tableware collection is inspired by traditional techniques, glazing crafts and recycled glass production in Mexico. Like an unstudied harmony in one’s grandmother’s cupboard, the pieces will get their own patina through multiple uses.

8 Floor cushion workshop

These handcrafted floor cushions have different fabrics on each side, making them unique. For a surprising melange, Jean-Paul created an algorithm process to mix patterns together. He then selects the combinations he likes out of this computer program.

9 Multi-purpose box / PVC, wood and cotton

This object can be seen as the starting point, as well as the resume of the Silversquare project. The multi-purpose box mixes re-used transport boxes from Mexico, laser-cut wood covers from Belgium and cushions from India. It combines three continents in one multi-functional object (locker, stool, side table, stepladder…).

10 Meeting table / Wood inlay

Jean-Paul worked with the decorative technique of wood inlay to create this handcrafted masterpiece. Developed in Mysore, India, this piece includes processes from different decades of marquetry, highlighting its evolution through the arrival of new techniques, materials and tools.

1 – 2 Image caption from a performance at Gothenburg Opera

The smash hit Skid, with a dance floor tilted at 34°, challenges the dancers beyond gravity. The dancers are set in motion by gravity force as the slope enhances chain reactions of stunning, powerful and moving events.

3 Costume research / upcycled stocking

First study for costumes creation.

4 Image caption from a performance during Europalia Indonesia

«Shifting perceptions of human voices and dances from Papua» is the starting point of Darlane Litaay’s creation. Traditionally in Papua, voice and movement always happen together; singing and dancing cannot be separated. In this work, we propose to experience traditional Papuan costumes, songs and dances as deconstructed entities, pointing at the intrinsic interconnectedness between these elements as different forms of communication.

5 Image caption from a virtual performance at Biennale Di Venezia

VR_I combine dance with cuttingedge VR technology. Immersed in a virtual environment and full-body avatars both designed by Jean-Paul Lespagnard, and tracked by a motion capture system, participants can see their bodies evolving in a fantastic world where giants and macro people co-exist. Equipped with VR headsets and an onboard computer, they are free to move and interact with other users.

6 – 7 Image caption from a performance at Bellas Artes Mexico

VR_I combine dance with cuttingedge VR technology. Immersed in a virtual environment and full-body avatars both designed by Jean-Paul Lespagnard, and tracked by a motion capture system, participants can see their bodies evolving in a fantastic world where giants and macro people co-exist. Equipped with VR headsets and an onboard computer, they are free to move and interact with other users.

8 Image caption from a performance at Gotheborg Opera

With unstoppable, relentless fluidity and joyful emergency, Kites pull its audience into a vortex of complex patterns and movements at the crossroad between cutting sharp precision and ecstatic abandon. The piece is a highly physical reflection of life’s fleeting yet powerful nature, hanging on a thread like a kite surfing unpredictable currents. Air was the main inspiration for this performance.

9 Costume research

fabrics and terracotta First study for costumes creation

10 Image caption from a performance during the opening party

To celebrate 25 years of Who’s Next, Jean-Paul Lespagnard designed the costumes for a spectacular artistic performance choreographed by Virgine Toc. The show was accompanied by guitarist Raoul Chichin as well as the voice of Julie Clergerie.

11 Image caption from a performance at Manchester International Festival

In its glowing review, British newspaper The Guardian called the performance «a thrilling blizzard of movement», but it’s a performance that could just as well be described as antichoreography. When the dancers meet on the floor, they don’t mirror each other’s gestures or look for a common theme. It’s a cacophony of dance and costumes, with 25 dancers all approaching movement from different angles.

12 YELLE Album cover

A long-time collaborator of French pop sensation YELLE, Jean-Paul designed a collection of costumes for this album and live performances. This album and its visuals soon became iconic in French pop culture.

1 Artistic research

What interests Jean-Paul is contact with people, personal exchanges and expertise. Jean-Paul never approaches an artisan or a culture with a specific idea. What interests him is observing how they work and live and adapting his requests to that. The intersection of their story and Jean-Paul’s background gives the creation its meaning.

2 Early 20th-century statue of a street trader / Silver

Jean-Paul considers this statue found in Barcelona’s gothic neighbourhood as the creative epiphany of the Extra-Luggage project.

3 Modern street traders cart

Street vendors were a common feature of daily life in Europe until the 50s. Today in many cities in the world, one will encounter people selling small items from a suitcase, a wheeled clothing cart or a small caravan café.

4 Pop Up at Galleries Lafayette Paris

An example of a pop-up store created by Jean-Paul Lespagnard. Jean-Paul wants to bring back the concept of nomadic vendors into our contemporary life. Everything is possible and flexible: a cabana on a beach in Goa, a hotel room in NYC, a friend’s house in Hasselt, an apartment in Mexico City, a temporary store in Knoke or LA, an Airbnb in Seoul or Göteborg, a pop-up corner shop in Tokyo, a tent in Marrakech, an old sheep house in Ibiza, a holiday house in Majorca, a small fisherman’s cottage in hydra or at JPL place in Brussels.

1 Press campaign for the collaboration

2 Chocolate box / Printed tin

To celebrate its fortieth anniversary, the Galler brand has teamed up with Jean-Paul Lespagnard to create fashionable «Eggs à la Mode». Haute couture supermarket packaging with graphic patterns inspired by Fabergé jewelled eggs. The box is divided into three parts, available in three interchangeable designs. This principle allows a combination of no less than 27 original models.

3 Facade installation/window stickers

While presenting during Paris Fashion week, Jean-Paul Lespagnard has become one of Belgium’s most popular and talked-about designers. As a result, Jean-Paul has been honoured by Galleries Lafayette in Paris. Who decided to invite him to Galerie des Galleries for an entire 4 month-long exhibition and a whole facade installation. The unique 360° creative process offered an insight into his world. Humility, humour and individuality are some buzzwords defining Jean-Paul Lespagnard’s project. Who stands for a new generation of Belgian designers veering away from the abstract and the conceptual to privilege a generous and more pragmatic vision.

4 Socks / cotton and elastane

Humorously playing with socks manufacturing techniques, the sock can be worn right side up or inside out for 2 surprisingly different effects.

5 Installation / Technical fabric and neon ligh

It was an honor for Jean-Paul Lespagnard to design the 1000th costume of nano Manneken Pis. This monument is part of Brussels’ collective memory but also symbolizes Belgian surrealism. The installation is a tribute to mega Atomium. The outfit has the color of its silver spheres. A neon arch representing the daily fireworks of Expo 58 completes the design. Due to his size and proportions and the need to accommodate the water pipe, the costume was a complicated custom sewing job.

6 1000th costume of Manneken Piss.

To celebrate its fortieth anniversary, the Galler brand has teamed up with Jean-Paul Lespagnard to create fashionable «Eggs à la Mode». Haute couture supermarket packaging with graphic patterns inspired by Fabergé jewelled eggs. The box is divided into three parts, available in three interchangeable designs. This principle allows a combination of no less than 27 original models.

7 Backpack / Nylon and rubber

For two seasons, Eastpak released backpack collections with Jean-Paul Lespagnard. These capsule collections were available in two different colours and sizes, allowing people to wear them as backpacks or briefcases. For one season, Jean-Paul teamed up with the pope’s embroiderer to produce crafted straps. He teamed up with Louis Vuitton’s vegetal leather producer for the second one.

8 Cap / reflective fabric

Product study for the Atomium souvenir shop.

9 Paper Crown / Paper

To celebrate Kings and Queens this year, the famous Belgian cookie house Maison Dandoy invited Jean-Paul to design the paper crown furnished with the galette. For this design, Jean-Paul played with typical Dandoy dots. He studied production processes to make the most giant paper crown possible with reasonable manufacturing conditions.

10 Image caption from the fashion show

Belgian Embassy in Mumbai invited Jean-Paul Lespagnard to team with National Institute of Fashion Technology Mumbai students. Jean-Paul thought about this 2 weeks workshop exchange as a cross-pollination of two different cultural and design philosophies. The result, fusing his clothing line with traditional Indian garments, gave a new vision on positive cultural appropriation. Jean-Paul truly believes that this is what the world needs. Time, live talks, sharing, no prejudice, take good benefits of each other culture and joy.

11 Colour Design

12 Press campaign for the collaboration

Jean-Paul Lespagnard participated in an international campaign Feel XE, involving ambassadors from different disciplines like music (Dua Lipa) and sport (David Beckham). He threw himself into the program by revisiting the famous Jaguar Racing Green for a surprisingly unexpected Acid Green. With his passion for merging his projects into one big global concept, Jean-Paul even included this new colour in the development of his «Cheese on Fleek» fashion collection.