Bouchra Jarrar

Bouchra Jarrar (born 14 November 1970 in Cannes) is a French haute couture fashion designer.

Bouchra Jarrar
Bouchra Jarrar in 2016.
Born	(1970-11-14) November 14, 1970 Cannes, France
Nationality	French
Education	École Duperré (1991－1994)
Occupation	Fashion designer
Label(s)	Balenciaga (1996－2006) Bouchra Jarrar (2010－) Lanvin (2016－2017)
Awards	df=yof the Ordre des Arts et des Lettres (2012)

Early life and education

Born to Moroccan parents in Cannes, Jarrar entered Paris's École Duperré[1] at age 21 and graduated three years later, in 1994.

Career

From 1994, Jarrar gained experienced at various brands including Jean Paul Gaultier's jewellery department and Balenciaga, where she arrived in 1996 and, after being promoted by creative director Nicolas Ghesquiere, served as studio director until 2006. She has worked for lingerie brand Capucine Puerari[2] as well as for the jewelry department of Jean Paul Gaultier.[2][3]

Jarrar worked on Jean Paul Gaultier’s licensed jewelry collection from 1994 until 1996 before arriving at Balenciaga under Josephus Thimister.[4] She later worked with Nicolas Ghesquière at Balenciaga, where she served as his studio director until 2006, helping to create ready-to-wear collections.[1] She then worked for Scherrer[2] for a short time, before becoming the director of Lacroix's haute couture studio, which she ran until the company filed for bankruptcy in 2009.[5]

In January 2010, Jarrar started her own brand,[1] presenting her collections once a year, during Paris Fashion Week.[6] The label has since become known for its minimal aesthetic.[5] From 2010 to 2013, she was a guest member of the Chambre syndicale de la haute couture. Since December 2013, she is an official member,[7] her fashion house being able to use the term "haute couture".[8] In 2015, Mode et Finance, the French venture capital firm managed by Bpifrance, made a minority investment in Jarrar’s business, with the designer holding 74 per cent.[4]

In addition to her own label, Jarrar designed a jewellery collection for Mauboussin in 2016.[4]

In March 2016, French fashion house Lanvin confirmed Jarrar had been appointed Artistic Director of the brand's women’s collection, succeeding Alber Elbaz;[9] she closed her eponymous couture house to join the company.[10] Jarrar showed her first resort collection in June 2016 to critical approval.[11] She completed only two ready-to-wear collections, spring 2017 and fall 2018, for the house before the termination of her contract.[12] She left Lanvin after 16 months amid declining sales.[12]

In 2019, Jarrar photographed the singer Keren Ann for the cover of her album Bleue.[13]

Recognition

• 2012 – Chevalier of the Ordre des Arts et des Lettres
• 2017 – Officer of the Ordre des Arts et des Lettres[14][12]

Style

Bouchra Jarrar is inspired by real life, the spirit of time, and whatever she observes when she walks in Paris. She defines her house style: " My designs are simple. Outfits with trousers and not spectacular dresses that I could make… But no, I don't want "my" women to dream, I just want her to imagine herself wearing my clothes", thus referring to a wearable wardrobe. Bouchra Jarrar's style is recognized as minimalist.

She once said that high fashion "must be the reflection of the street".[15]

For the fall/winter 2014-2015, she made the sportswear style look chic.[16]

References

1. Clément Ghys (September 26, 2014). "Bouchra Jarrar, la discrète". liberation.fr (in French). Libération. Retrieved February 23, 2015.
2. Géraldine Dormoy (August 23, 2010). "Bouchra Jarrar, l'élégance au bout des ciseaux". lexpress.fr (in French). L'Express. Retrieved February 23, 2015.
3. "Bouchra Jarrar - Prestige Magazine". Prestige Magazine. 2016-11-02. Retrieved 2016-11-09.
4. Miles Socha (March 11, 2016), Lanvin Confirms Bouchra Jarrar as New Women’s Designer Women's Wear Daily.
5. Grace Cook (March 11, 2016), Lanvin appoint Bouchra Jarrar as creative director Financial Times.
6. Carine Bizet (November 18, 2013). "Bouchra Jarrar : "je crée un vestiaire global"". lemonde.fr (in French). Le Monde. Retrieved February 23, 2015.
7. "Bouchra Jarrar reçoit l'appellation " haute couture "". lemonde.fr (in French). Le Monde. December 18, 2013. Retrieved February 23, 2015.
8. "Bouchra Jarrar, nouvelle maison française de haute couture". leparisien.fr (in French). Le Parisien. December 18, 2013. Retrieved February 23, 2015.
9. "Lanvin Confirms Bouchra Jarrar As Artistic Director". vogue.co.uk. March 11, 2016.
10. Robin Givhan (September 29, 2016), After a year of chaos, a surprising dose of elegance from Lanvin The Wall Street Journal.
11. Alicia Drake (September 27, 2016), At Lanvin, Bouchra Jarrar’s New Dawn The New York Times.
12. Elizabeth Paton (July 6, 2017), Bouchra Jarrar, Artistic Director at Lanvin, Is Out After 16 Months The New York Times.
13. Tina Isaac-Goizé (2 July 2019), Bouchra Jarrar Turns Photographer With a New Exhibition Vogue.
14. Joelle Diderich (June 30, 2017), Bouchra Jarrar Promoted to Officer of the Order of Arts and Letters Women's Wear Daily.
15. "Pour la créatrice Bouchra Jarrar, la haute couture "doit être le reflet de la rue"". leparisien.fr (in French). Le Parisien. January 28, 2015. Retrieved February 23, 2015.
16. Claire Mabrut (July 8, 2014). "L'effet sportswear de Bouchra Jarrar". lefigaro.fr (in French). Le Figaro. Retrieved February 23, 2015.

Further reading

• Margaux Destray (February 15, 2014). "Dans les secrets d'atelier de Bouchra Jarrar". lefigaro.com (in French). Le Figaro. Retrieved February 23, 2015.