VOLUME II / ISSUE VII / JULY 2018
AZEDE JEAN-PIERRE
From Refugee to Fashion Week
Azede Jean-Pierre proves that with work ethic and dreaming big, you can achieve anything. Jean-Pierre’s name is buzzing throughout the fashion industry, especially after debuting her fashion line, to which she credits her Haitian heritage as inspiration. Her clothing line has something for everyone: an outfit for a night out, a happy hour, or a casual date. Her clothing represents the free-spirited, Afro-centric woman who is finding herself in this world; not afraid to stand out. Life wasn’t all glitz and glam for Jean-Pierre. A Haitian refugee, who came from her country and settled in Atlanta, Jean-Pierre discovered her love for art in her early childhood, which led to enrolling at Savannah College of Art and Design. She interned at local brands Ohne Titel and Ralph Rucci. This experience prompted her to launch her label in 2012. Jean-Pierre’s big break came when her fashion
page 92
label made its Paris Fashion Week debut with the Spring 2017 collection. She credits her Caribbean culture as the inspiration behind the collection at the debut. But it’s safe to say her most influential fan is America’s First Lady Michelle Obama. After sending a cold email to FLOTUS’s team, Mrs. Obama, a champion of up-andcoming designers, commissioned Jean-Pierre to create the ice-blue dress she wore on the cover of Essence magazine in 2014. ‘She’s done a lot to help young people, including myself,’ says the designer. ‘She put me in the forefront, and I’m grateful.’ Haitian culture plays an immense inspiration for designing her clothes. “I think any barrier can be broken and being of African descent adds some value to your perspective,” said Jean-Pierre. “It should be thought of that way because it’s cool to have a different perspective.”