Third-year SCAD fashion student Azede Jean-Pierre will host her first fashion show Oct. 3 at 8 p.m. Jean-Pierre will show off her spring/summer collection at the The Goat Farm, an 8,000-square-foot venue in Midtown Atlanta’s Design District. Jean-Pierre recently took a time-out to chat with the Connector.
Connector: What inspired you to be a fashion designer?
Jean-Pierre: I don’t know … (laughs). All I knew was that I was an artist. As a kid, I was drawing a lot and it was the path I chose.
Connector: Of all the art schools, why did you choose SCAD?
Jean-Pierre: I like Atlanta. I like staying home. I was born in Haiti, but been in Atlanta for 17 years. So, basically, Atlanta is my home. Also, I like the teachers here in SCAD Atlanta. They are very helpful and I love them.
Connector: Tell us about your collection for the show.
Jean-Pierre: It came from a paper pattern where the folds are manipulated from paper to the garments. Then, from the folds, I was playing with pockets, where if you turn the pockets inside out it creates this drape. … I extended this draping concept along with the folds throughout my collection. So, basically it is these folds and drapes and putting them together to make up different shapes that inspired my collection. Also, I love hoods … so I put that in my collection, too.
Connector: So you played with the idea of silhouettes?
Jean-Pierre: Yes, I like forms. I like making the garment pretty much do something. I like it when it is doing something, like when you have a pocket that doesn’t belong there and it came from a pleat or something. I like stuff like that.
Connector: How many pieces are in your show?
Jean-Pierre: Currently, I have about 32 to 33 pieces, but I am pushing for more.
Connector: Wow. So, it must be hard to do something like this since you are still a student. How can aspiring fashion students go about doing what you are doing?
Jean-Pierre: Actually, I have a lot of help. Not help in designing, but with everything else. I had a graphic student friend in SCAD Atlanta that graduated last year that does all my graphic works, like my letterheads. Also, people are like willing to help.
Connector: So, taking full advantage of your resources and networks — professors and students.
Azede Jean-Pierre: Yes, definitely. Like photographers and graphic students. These may be your future colleagues. You never know (smiles). Although, I don’t know many people at SCAD, but the ones I do know have been very helpful and nice.
Also, I have pretty big sponsors for my show like Red Bull Inc., who will provide the refreshments; EF Entertainment Inc.; Clique Modeling Agency Inc., who will provide all the models for me; and Estée Lauder, who will be providing the make-up artists and small gift bags for my guest at the show. Hopefully, The Atlantan, Atlanta’s luxury magazine, whom I’m still trying to get.
I used to be a stylist, and I took a year off in-between my first and second year at SCAD Atlanta to work as a stylist. Through my stylist job, I met and worked with the best photographers and people throughout Atlanta. So, I had little connection, which helps.
It is very important to stay connected with the people you worked with, whether a temporary job or an internship, because in this industry, it’s not just about your talents. It’s about networking, as well. You just need to get out there and market yourself professionally.
Connector: Is there something in particular you would like to gain from hosting this show?
Jean-Pierre: Yeah, I am inviting a lot of buyers to the show, so all the top boutiques in Atlanta that people like to buy from, like Addiction, Bill Hallman, and others, as well. And, hopefully they will like what they see and I’ll go from there.
This show is going to be nice with refreshments and gift bags from Estée Lauder to all my guests, so it’ll be exciting and cool. I would love for SCAD students to come. Since I don’t know many, it would be a great opportunity for me to meet them and for them to get to know me. I just hope my first show will be a success.
About Jean-Pierre’s fashion show
Because of limited parking at the Goat Farm Jean-Pierre can only accommodate 300 attendees. Tickets can be purchased at www.brownpapertickets.com.
The cost is $10 for SCAD students; $12 dollars for general admission.
It is a black-tie affair and no one under 16 will be admitted. Cameras are OK.
A mixer will be held after the show.
For further details, visit www.azedejean-pierre.com/ss10.