Her Campus Capital Catwalk is around the corner and what better way to continue this exclusive Ottawa Fashion show than bringing back one of Ottawa’s well respected, up and coming New Brunswick fashionista, Julien|George. Student by day and slaying statement outfits by night, Julien is a young Canadian designer worth knowing, and what better way to learn about what makes him so fashionable than interviewing the designer himself:
Her Campus: Tell me a bit about yourself…
Julien: I grew up in a small French town in New Brunswick, until I decided to move to Ottawa in 2012 to study Communication and Business at the University of Ottawa. I am currently a fourth year student and I’ll be graduating at the end of the semester. While being the Owner and Creative Director of Collection Julien George, I’m also a blogger on UrbanelySophisticated.com and a member of the Sigma Chi Fraternity.
HC: When did you decide to start your line, Julien|George?
J: I decided to start this clothing company back in winter 2014, because I thought that my program in university lacked creative space and practical exercises. As a project, I decided to start a business to put my knowledge and passion to work.
NEW COLLECTION (SEASON 3)
HC: Describe your fashion line in one word.
J: Sophisticated.
HC: What’s one statement piece that everyone should have?
J: It’s probably because of the weather, but I’d have to say a coat! The style, the colour, the designs, length, cut, etc. Everything about your coat says something about you, from a bomber jacket to a pea coat, you can definitely analyse a person based on it. So it’s very important that your coat states your personality and/or the person you aspire to be.
HC: What can everyone expect to see on the runway this year from Julien|George at Her Campus Capital Catwalk fashion show?
J: People can expect to see a lot of dark colors with rich fabrics. I tried to give the femme fatal vibe while staying true to my vision to show the strength and mystery of women. For the menswear, it’ll go mostly into the avant-garde casual.
HC: What is your biggest accomplishment thus far?
J: I’m not too sure what my biggest accomplishment is, but I do feel proud about many things in my life, such as kick starting my clothing company and blog, in addition to joining Sigma Chi, travelling to Austria, Germany, and Italy all while learning Italian.
HC: What do you think about Ottawa’s fashion scene? Do you think we make a statement as a fashion city like Toronto or Montreal?
J: Ottawa’s fashion scene is definitely more local compared to Toronto’s or Montreal’s. In a way it’s great for small designers to have a better access to the industry, but on the other hand, we don’t have the prestige and interest as elsewhere. Fashion in Ottawa has been growing immensely during the last few years, but I believe it can grow even more. I hope that the new government will show more interest as to investing in arts and culture. We have amazing talent throughout the country and it can become a great source of revenue for our economy.
PREVIOUS COLLECTION (SEASON 2)
HC: Where do you see yourself as a young aspiring designer in the next 2 years?
J: I’m the kind of person who has many plans and options for the future. With my degree coming to an end, these options are becoming more vague. One thing is for certain though, I’ll be perusing a career in the fashion industry, whether it is as a designer or something else, time will tell.
HC: Any inspirational advice you can give to other aspiring fashionistas out there?
J: To trust your gut and follow your passion. When it comes to fashion, your instinct is your best friend. If you’re afraid, take a chance. Do what makes your heart race and work hard to attain your goals. Most importantly, do everything in style.
You heard it from the up and coming fashionista himself and we hope to see you there with your most stylish outfit. Remember, stay classy and fabulous.
Sources: All photos provided by Julien|George