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Style on the street isn’t always found outside the fashion shows. JULIEN BOUDET (@bleumode) finds inspiration on the streets and in the urban landscapes of Hong Kong. KIM BUI KOLLAR speaks with the photographer to understand more about his process
How did you come up with the moniker Bleu Mode? What’s your relationship with the colour blue?
Bleu Mode was initially the name for what started more as a sort of street-style blog, about six years ago, and I really wanted a cool name for it – I didn't want it to be “Julien Boudet Photography” or anything like that. I tried to find a name that would fit my vision; it had to be strong and meaningful to me. After a couple days and some brainstorming with myself, I thought of Bleu Mode and I immediately knew it was the one.
“Bleu” comes from the Mediterranean Sea, to be specific, which was a big part of my youth, growing up five minutes' walking distance from the beach in southern France. The sea has always been a big source of inspiration – staring at it it would amaze me and make me dream for hours. It was also a place to relax and think properly about life in general, and all those things that keep you calm. As for “Mode,” it means fashion in French – pretty self-explanatory.
How would you describe what you do for a living?
When I'm too lazy to get into detail in a small-talk situation, I just say that I am a photographer. In reality, it's much more than just taking photos. I guess I do a lot of different things related to fashion and style in general, such as consulting, styling, creative direction, marketing... Obviously my title is still “photographer”, but it encompasses a lot of different things. And this is why I love what I do – I get to do so much, including travelling a lot, which is the best part.
I see Hong Kong pop up on your feed often enough. How many times have you been here? Do you like to shoot here? What is the city’s draw for you?
I've been to Hong Kong three times and I find it very inspiring. Being passionate about architecture, it's obvious that I am attracted to it – I love all these tall buildings and especially the colours, which makes Hong Kong a very unique place in terms of visuals. Bright or pastel colours are everywhere – it's what I really like about Hong Kong. In a way, it reminds me of New York City a lot, with a good energy – I guess we could say it's the Asian version of it.