Jackie Lee’s clothes are introverted characters. You have to get to know them and see them dance for the full picture. It’s always the quiet ones…
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Prim but we wouldn’t say proper, neat but not anal, futuristic but not ridiculously so, Jackie Lee, branded J. JS LEE, is the young heiress of minimalism who emerged from Central Saint Martins in 2010. Since her grey-and-white graduate collection, which won her the Harrods Award and which she humbly believes is still her best, Lee has come very quickly to the top, building her reputation in an orderly fashion. Her palette remains uncontaminated, but for a few choice colours per collection while circles and stripes provide the architecture. Like well-organised angels with busy schedules, J. JS LEE’s women are pure and serious but not sombre. While Harley Weir photographed bluebird Hannah Noble in AW12, i-D online put Ms Lee in the hot-seat.
How have you developed your aesthetic since finishing your MA? I have tried not to forget my original aesthetic, adding some more new details and shapes with each collection. Based on minimalism, more colour and various shapes have been developed.
What do you think about your graduate collection looking back? I am still thinking of my graduate collection so often because it’s the best collection of mine so far I think.
What’s been the highlight of your career so far? The unexpected award from Harrods. That encouraged me to launch my own label.
What’s inspiring you this season? Brick.
What do you love the most about your job? Listening to people talking about my collection. I love to listen to all the feedback.
What’s your studio like? Clean. Well organized. Quiet but fun.
If you could collaborate with another designer who would it be? I would love to collaborate with someone who has crazy taste in colour and print. It would be really fun working with someone different to me.
What do you like about minimalist style? Minimalist style doesn’t hop on trend. It can last a long time without negative judgement by others.
Where do you feel most at home? Seoul or London? Now London. It’s been seven years now.
What are your hopes for the future? J. JS LEE Men, Kid, Home, etc. I want more J. JS LEE lines added.
Text: Sarah Raphael
Photography: Harley Weir
Styling: Raphael Hirsch
Model: Hannah Noble @ Elite London
Hair: Roku Roppongi using Bumble and bumble
Make up: James Timothy using NARS
Special Thanks to Davide Russo at Recom Framhouse.
