The colourful world of Stella Jean.
Stella Jean redefines the meaning of “fashion statement.”
when you meet Stella Jean, you’re immediately struck by her energy, intellect and integrity. Her designs— a vibrant blend of patterns, shapes and colours—are equally mesmerizing. The former model turned designer is known for her clever—and often ironic—blending of stylistic, cultural and social references. “Fashion is the most authentic way for me to express and resolve some of the inadequacies I felt being part of a multiracial family in Italy in the ’80s,” she explained during her visit to Toronto earlier this year. “It was hard for me to find an identity, but fashion gave me space to manoeuvre and find a place where my cultures—Haitian and Italian—could coexist. If we can mix style elements from different cultures with good results, we can definitely embrace this juxtaposition of cultures in real life.” ■