“Fashion, Art & Rock’n’Roll” : An absolute must have!

To anyone interested in the fashion industry, there is no need to introduce him. His forty-year career in art and fashion has made him an icon. Jean-Charles de Castelbajac left his mark over several decades of daring creation, putting versatility into the heart of his work since his earliest days of experimentation. He gave a new meaning to fashion, with a more artistic approach, by using unconditional materials and questioning everything from shape to purpose. Authenticity was always a key element to his success. As for the quest for perfection, it was never his ultimate goal in his creations because he always found mistakes more interesting. The freedom of being like no one else and the choice to use all colors one finds in the rainbow, were also essential elements of his work.

Born in 1949 in Casablanca, Morocco, JC de Castelbajac was sent to boarding school in the Southwest of France, near the Pyrenees mountains. As a young man, he started building his creative and poetic work while being part of the underground punk and rock’n’roll culture of the 1970’s, which had definitely nourished his appetite for singularity and his taste for making things different. Known for being world citizen, travelling between London, Paris and New York, Castelbajac continues to be deeply rooted in the Southwest of France.     

In December 2016, the designer published “Fashion, Art & Rock’n’Roll”, a colorful, insightful book about his splendid career. In a very personal way, he shares what has been important to him and what has inspired him through all these years. The publication seems to be the notebook he carried around for a lifetime but on a much grander scale. The artist shares with his readers a selection of visuals, handwritings, drawing and sketches, interviews, anecdotes and snapshots of his life, his inspirations, and his encounters. As he puts it: “This book is dedicated to all young artists, designers and free spirits who wish to change the world”. A very positive message, full of hope, directed toward the next generation who may be hungry for information about his creative genius.