Born in Lyon, Laure JULIEN entered the École Nationale Supérieure des Arts Décoratifs de Paris in 2017, where she chose fashion design as her specialization, and as a means of experimenting with themes linking the body, objects, and clothing.
Eager to create a strong link between form and material, Laure JULIEN experiments with knitwear, weaving, leather, as well as a variety of other materials such as ceramics or metal. Mastering these materials allows her to create pieces at the crossroads of accessories, clothing, and sculpture, all the while adhering to a process of ecology of means, materials, recycling, reuse of scraps, and by reversible, modular, and genderfluid design processes.
As part of the double master degree with Bunka Gakuen in Tokyo, she studied and experimented for two years in Japan. She fell under the spell of Japanese culture and its richness in craftsmanship and art, and completed a one-year internship in an independent Japanese leather goods brand, during which she learned about traditional, natural, and ecological processes, which the brand has made its priority since its creation. She also brought her knowledge of bamboo to their new collection of bags, mixing bamboo and leather.
The strong bonds created with the bamboo craftsmen she met there led to her first to collaborate with Takayuki SHIMIZU for Hermès Homme accessories. This experience was quickly followed by an apprenticeship with Tanaka KYOKUSHO, a renowned artist in his field who received the Emperor’s award for his exceptional craftsmanship.
Immersed in the Japanese mountains, this specialized training allows Laure JULIEN to acquire the essential techniques of the craft, in order to develop them for her projects. This apprenticeship places her in a practice similar to that of Japanese artists/craftsmen, with the specificity of being able to manipulate bamboo, leather, textile, ceramics, and other techniques related to fashion.
The uniqueness of her practice is highly appreciated in Japan, allowing her to be selected for a major contemporary art festival, Atami Art Grant, as well as to exhibit in various places in Japan and to win the second Grand Prix of the Terrasse Shonan Award. These experiences are in addition to the many internships she has done in France, both in the textile industry and with independent French designers and craftsmen.
