22765: (Hermantin)Miami-Herald-Eye-catching outfits are inspired by Haiti (fwd)

[Bob Corbett <corbetre@webster.edu>]

From: leonie hermantin <lhermantin@hotmail.com>

Posted on Wed, Jul. 21, 2004




COUTURE


Eye-catching outfits are inspired by Haiti

BY RHONDA STEWART

Boston Globe


Joelle Jean-Fontaine is making a name for herself in the fashion world as a
rebel. The 23-year-old, who has already shown her work twice during New
York's Fashion Week, has unveiled a line called Revolte, a French term for
rebel, that was inspired by Haiti's bicentennial.

Using only red and black, the Revolte collection pays tribute to its
designer's native Haiti. This year marks the 200th anniversary of the slave
revolt that gave the island nation independence from French rule. But the
country has become better known for the volcano of unrest that seems to
erupt there periodically -- as when President Jean-Bertrand Aristide was
ousted earlier this year -- than for its creative energy.

Jean-Fontaine, who was born during the regime of Jean-Claude ''Baby Doc''
Duvalier, sees Revolte as a way to portray her home country in a more
positive light by using it as a source of inspiration.

''It was very important to me to show the Haitian people, especially Haitian
women, as very strong, very passionate, very sensual,'' she said.

Before she created her niche in the fashion world, the young designer carved
out a studio in a small corner of the home she shares with her husband and
3-year-old son in Mattapan, Mass.

Here, Jean-Fontaine creates her signature funky, eye-catching collections.
The walls are papered with ads and magazine covers showing a multiracial
group of models and actresses wearing Louis Vuitton, Givenchy, and Yves
Saint Laurent. The images illustrate the kinds of unconventional pieces she
would one day love to create for style icons such as Pink, Erykah Badu, or
Outkast's Andre 3000.

Jean-Fontaine's designs are for people who want to stand out rather than
blend in. Since she makes no more than 10 of each design, it's not likely
you'll be caught at a party where someone is wearing the same outfit.

For Jean-Fontaine, the smallest things can spark an idea, such as the colors
of a rusted copper penny. She keeps an eye on what's hot in the eyes of
fashion-industry bibles such as Vogue but doesn't watch them too closely
because she wants to set trends rather than follow them. Jean-Fontaine
admires the work of designers such as Betsey Johnson, Alexander McQueen, and
Jean-Paul Gaultier but also draws her inspiration from closer to home.

''I get inspired by watching people. I come out a lot and just sit in
Harvard Square or on Newbury Street,'' she said. ``If I read the magazines I
feel like I'm influenced by them, and I don't want to be. I want the
creativity to come from me.''

Last year, a friend encouraged Jean-Fontaine to submit her designs for a
show during New York's Fashion Week. Jean-Fontaine contacted the organizers,
who were impressed by photos of her work. There was just one problem -- she
didn't have a complete line to show, just a few pieces. So in less than a
week, she created a collection of 15 pieces that became her first line,
called Kaleidoscope. Jean-Fontaine returned to Fashion Week this year to
show Revolte.

''It's always nerve-racking, but I wouldn't give it up for anything,'' she
said. ``With people's reactions it's wonderful because so much has happened
in such a short period of time.''

This fall, she will show her clothes to retailers, buyers, and others
interested in her designs. She hopes to get her designs into boutiques and
specialty stores and is also launching a website for sales.

With future plans to branch out into everything from bathing suits to
menswear, Jean-Fontaine may soon need to expand her design studio, where
she's clearly at home.


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