Jean Charles Castelbajac Fashion designer Date of Birth: 28.11.1949 Country: France

Biography of Jean-Charles de Castelbajac

Jean-Charles de Castelbajac, a prominent and influential contemporary fashion designer, was born in Casablanca, Morocco. In the mid-1950s, he moved to France with his parents. As a descendant of crusader knights, Castelbajac spent his childhood in a strict religious boarding school. It was at the age of 17 that he created his first sketches and drawings of clothing, realizing his passion for fashion.

Upon arriving in Paris, Castelbajac rented a tiny room and began selling his peculiar drawings for 15-20 francs. People mistook him for a bohemian artist, and his unique artworks sold well, despite his unknown status at the time. He went on to work as a stylist and designer for various fashion companies before being hired by Raymond Levy. Together, they established a Parisian studio. By 1975, Castelbajac had opened his own fashion business.

In the 1970s, Castelbajac became one of the creators of the "sportswear" trend, designing clothing for active leisure. Alongside his own collections, he also developed the "Sportmax" line for the Italian company "Max Mara." In the 1980s, the designer became fascinated with incorporating slogans, applique designs, and elements of surrealism into his clothing. He fearlessly incorporated images from famous paintings, films, and even cartoons into his works. His persona attracted both comic and scandalous attention.

In the early 1990s, Jean-Charles de Castelbajac briefly shifted his focus to furniture and interior design but eventually returned to creating clothing. His latest collection for the fall-winter season of 2009-2010 showcased a series of experiments with color, texture, and even the concept of fashion itself. During his fashion shows, models would throw banknotes featuring the image of President Barack Obama into the audience while strutting in dresses depicting Clint Eastwood and Andy Warhol, as well as outfits resembling banknotes and plastic credit cards.

Although Castelbajac's collection resembled carnival costumes, it received high praise from critics and, above all, the audience. Crowds would flock to his shows, and despite the enigmatic and peculiar nature of his works, similar to expressionist paintings, they captivated and intrigued viewers. Outside of the fashion world, Jean-Charles de Castelbajac also painted angels on the walls of city buildings. He is also an instructor at the University of Vienna and the Saint Martins school in London. "I try to convey to my students that fashion and design today are not only acts of creativity but also serious marketing," says the designer.