Stella Jean on fashion as cultural dialogue and ethical making

Stella Jean, born in Rome in 1979 to an Italian father and Haitian mother, discusses her fashion practice as a medium for social and political change. She entered the industry through Vogue Italia and Alta Roma competitions, initially failing with collections rooted in Italian craftsmanship, then succeeding by embracing her mixed heritage—combining Italian tailoring with Caribbean colors. Jean works with artisans in Burkina Faso, Mali, Haiti, Peru, and Bolivia, rejecting exploitation and marketing-driven ethical fashion. Her collection inspired by Las Cholitas Luchadoras, Bolivian female wrestlers, used a stylistic oxymoron—wide skirts with sportswear—to honor their autonomy without appropriation. She collaborates with artists like Christopher Griffin, Giorgio Vigna, and Ai Weiwei. Jean sees fashion as a platform for creolization and convergence, and her shows begin with a 1960s recording as a call to arms. The interview was conducted by Carlotta Petracci for Artribune in 2017.