This evening I had the pleasure of meeting fashion designer Justin LeBlanc at the “Justin, Dior, and I” lecture + screening in the Cary Theatre.
You may know LeBlanc from Project Runway Season 4 as a contestant, or Season 12 as a finalist. Maybe you recognize his innovative, mesmerizing fashion that uses unique materials and 3D printing. Perhaps you take classes from him at NC State’s College of Design! At the age of 29, LeBlanc is talent and creative movement on the rise-and fortunately for NC, he likes collaborating with local talent (Spoonflower of Durham, Matt Tomasulo’s Raleigh City Fabric, to name a few).
At this event, LeBlanc gave an informative session about the history of haute couture and House of Dior and shared a little about who he is as a designer and his experience in the fashion industry. Being born deaf, his worldview differs from the average person, creating a “new, altered perception of space and time” as well as heightening the creative vision we experience. Learning about the history of the House of Dior was simply fascinating in both the pre screening lecture and “Dior and I” showing (check out this trailer). LeBlanc’s down to earth, lighthearted nature paired with striking, innovative fashion makes him an easy icon to gravitate towards.
A few things you may not know about Justin LeBlanc:
The designer’s favorite thing about fashion is it’s a “form of self expression”. As a designer, it’s important that he stays true to himself and his vision; one of the biggest challenges in the industry is feeling pulled in different directions.
- He is a big supporter of education-it can help you get to the next step of your journey. Never stop learning.
- He lived in NYC for two summers and said that was enough.
- He decided to switch to fashion two weeks before his graduation.
- The first thing he sold was a tote bag from his website.
If you’d like to stay up to date with LeBlanc’s latest fashion moves, check him out here and on the gram.
Have a fave fashion designer or artist? We’d love to meet them. Connect with us here, the gram or twitter!
As always, until next time, Fashionistas!
-Fashion Stoppe