SCAD FASH Lacoste Presents: Julien Fournié: Haute Couture, Un Point C’est Tout!

The exhibition — Fournié’s first — showcases the skill and craftsmanship that earned him the exclusive prestige of haute couture.

LACOSTE, FRANCE — The Savannah College of Art and Design is thrilled to announce the exhibition Julien Fournié: Haute Couture, un point c’est tout! at SCAD FASH Lacoste, on view now at the university’s international location in Provence, France. Set in SCAD FASH Lacoste’s wondrously preserved medieval caves, Haute Couture, un point c’est tout! is the first museum exhibition for grand couturier Julien Fournié and highlights an expertly curated selection of nearly 20 of the designer’s most iconic and exquisite creations.

“SCAD FASH Lacoste is pleased to exhibit the work of designer Julien Fournié in a major exposition. Welcoming students and the public, the museum celebrates the finest in haute couture, said SCAD President & Founder Paula Wallace. “With bachelor’s and master’s degree programs in fashion, jewelry, accessory design, and luxury and brand management, SCAD is known around the world as the international university for creative professions, with locations in the United States and France.”

Fournié is celebrated for his masterful technique and artistry in the traditional French savoir-faire of haute couture. He was elected by his peers as an official member of the prestigious Chambre Syndicale de la Haute Couture in 2017 — an exclusive status granted to only 16 luxury brands throughout the world. Fournié’s thematic and fanciful collections, made to measure with precision in his Paris atelier, are composed of the finest materials, rendering elegant works of art that accentuate the female form. 

Fournié is beloved by an international clientele for his passion, discipline, and innovative approach to design as art. Fournié embraces technology’s fusion with fashion, often incorporating new digital techniques within the French haute couture tradition. As he expands his artistry into the metaverse, Fournié — the only haute couture designer to imagine the possibilities of the virtual realm — has established his place at the helm of the future of fashion.

While pursuing a medical degree, Fournié developed an anatomical understanding of the body, a skill that informs his accomplishments as a fashion designer. Graduating from the Ecole de la Chambre Syndicale de la Couture Parisienne in 2000 with a master’s degree in fashion design, Fournié joined the atelier of several haute couture houses including Christian Dior during the John Galliano era, Givenchy under Alexander McQueen, and eventually Jean Paul Gaultier. In 2003, Fournié was named creative director of Torrente Haute Couture. Fournié launched his eponymous label in 2009, instantly becoming one of the industry’s most talented designers. Shortly thereafter, he received an invitation to become a guest member of the official Haute Couture calendar. Just a few years later, Fournié was elected as a permanent member of Chambre Syndicale de la Haute Couture, joining an elite cadre of the world’s most notable fashion designers and luxury brands.

“It is a true honor to be in a museum in one’s lifetime, and I am excited to share my pieces and magical textile constructions in a more intimate light than on the runway,” said designer Julien Fournié. “Each and every seam was made in our Paris atelier, and we are proud of the masterful needlework techniques used to create my collections. In collaboration with SCAD FASH Lacoste and creative director Rafael Gomes, this exhibition shows that Haute Couture still shines in the 21st century. This exhibition on French soil will help share haute couture’s core values and highlight the expertise of the world’s best craftspeople who have been working with me over the past 14 years. I share this moment with all the women and men who have helped me build the House of Julien Fournié.”

In celebration of Julien Fournié: Haute Couture, un point c’est tout! at SCAD FASH Lacoste, President Wallace will host an opening reception with the designer, Saturday, April 1. SCAD students from many of the university’s top degree programs — including fashion, fibers, animation, illustration, painting, and art history — will have the exclusive opportunity to admire and study Fournié’s creations while engaging with the designer through conversations, master classes, and other programming. 

“Julien Fournié is one of French fashion’s greatest masters and truly epitomizes the ideals and expert craftsmanship of haute couture in his work,” said curator Rafael Gomes, creative director of SCAD FASH museums. “He is also fearless in his approach to new technology and techniques, and such an inspiration to our students. We are delighted to present Julien Fournié: Haute Couture, un point c’est tout! and recognize his incredible artistry and contributions to France’s fashion industry.” 

Julien Fournié: Haute Couture, un point c’est tout! Is on view through August 15, 2023. For more information, visit scadfash.org.