Introducing J.Papa

Brooklyn based brand that is always on point

Published on 06 November 2019

The FW19 collection was shot by Sophie Hur @sophiehur staring Lia Bass @oldirtiislim and Jarae Holieway @blacmagic_woman with makeup by Tarina Meaders @mysupanovagirl. “I am psyched with the outcome of the project telling a story of colleagues going from work to play dressed to kill.” The FW19 collection is now available at the JPAPANYC.COM

Hi Jill, tell us briefly about yourself and how did you discover your interest in fashion design?

Hi Just Magazine! I have been working and studying fashion in NYC for about 15 years now! I first discovered my interest in fashion watching music videos and reading fashion magazines as a teen. I learned fashion design was a career path I could take and immediately wanted to start studying design.

What is the concept behind your latest collection and how would you describe your brand’s DNA?

The concept behind the J.Papa FW19 collection is from Area 51 to Studio 54! I wanted to show professionals going from work to play as many of us do. The FW19 look book depicts Jarae Holieway and Lia Bass as colleagues wearing suiting with sneakers into funky nightlife looks.
Each J.Papa collection I design starts with fabric choices and a series of looks that my customer can wear throughout the season. I am designing their wardrobe with cool pieces that can be worn as day and evening looks. Then I come up with a story line that ties together my thoughts and designs.

What are your main inspirations, and how do you see your designs evolving?

My main inspiration is NYC, living here is just insane! The energy of the city and its people gives me a constant creative spark. I see my designs evolving more and more into a cohesive brand that speaks to my client. Working with individuals and getting feedback teaches me what I can provide as a designer. I am constantly learning and that is what makes fashion so exciting to me.

Seems that your work still has strong links to the feminity and freedom of everyday lifestyle, what does this mean to you? What themes do you explore with your designs?

Absolutely, one of my main goals as a designer is to instill confidence in individuality. Using fun fabrics that aren’t entirely traditional and sexy silhouettes are how I show my freedom as a designer. But it is more than the clothes, being inclusive in how I show my work is also extremely important.

What sets aside J.Papa from the other brands that are on the scene at the moment?

J.Papa is completely handmade! My brand is slow fashion at its finest, I make almost everything myself! This is the way I can sustain a fashion business and it gives me the ability to have full control over my impact on the industry. Clients can send me their exact measurements knowing the design will be perfect for them.

Can you talk us through your design process a bit– what are the key considerations?

Versatility is something I really think about when I design. Pieces that can be layered or worn in multiple ways but also unique and fun to wear. For example, the sequin dresses on Jarae and Lia can be layered over tops and bottoms creating dressed up or down fall and spring looks. It's that ready for anything vibe that NYC living has.

How do you think technology changes and social media is affecting fashion nowadays?

Being able to reach a wider audience and the amount of creative content being created is fabulous for designers!

What can we expect from you in the future? Your No1 goal for the rest of 2019? What would your next collection be like?

You can expect J.Papa to continue to grow by having a wider reach in person and online. I want my designs to be sold in other cities so that is a big goal right now. The next collection will be a capsule of J.Papa favorites, giving a fresh look too some best selling pieces!

shot by Sophie Hur @sophiehur models Jarae Holieway @blacmagic_woman & Lia Bass @oldirtiislim makeup Tarina Meaders @mysupanovagirl

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