HOW DID YOU FIRST BECOME ACQUAINTED WITH JONATHAN COHEN?

I was first introduced to the brand via email. The first time I saw it in person was in Paris. Sarah and Jonathan were sharing a show space with George Esquivel.

FOR YOUR AT-HOME PHOTOSHOOT, YOU HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO STYLE YOUR OWN LOOK, WHY DID YOU CHOOSE THE PARTICULAR OUTFIT YOU WERE PHOTOGRAPHED IN?

I always love flowers, and I know Jonathan's dresses are a "must" forever!

THE FASHION INDUSTRY IS CHANGING AT SUCH A RAPID PACE. WHAT DO YOU SEE AS THE BIGGEST CHALLENGES FOR THE FUTURE OF FASHION? ADDITIONALLY, WHAT DO YOU SEE AS THE MOST EXCITING OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE FUTURE OF FASHION?

Obviously, sustainability is finally a real priority. And I think there’s a real opportunity for “less but better…" We were at a level of “too much” of everything, and it’s really important to take a step back.

AT YOUR FORMER BOUTIQUE, COLETTE, SHOWCASING UP AND COMING DESIGNERS WAS A BIG PART OF HOW YOU CURATED YOUR INVENTORY. WHAT ARE SOME OF THE DETAILS THAT FIRST DRAW YOU TO A DESIGNER THAT IMPACT YOU ENOUGH TO WANT TO DISPLAY THEIR COLLECTIONS?

I was always looking for something I didn’t know yet: a collection which would be creative and would match our mood for the season.

COLETTE'S REPUTATION AS A FASHION STAPLE OF THE WORLD IS UNDENIABLE, AS DOCUMENTED IN THE RECENT FILM "COLETTE MON AMOUR." THE OVERALL MESSAGE FROM THE DOCUMENTARY READS "ALL GOOD THINGS MUST COME TO AN END." DID THE DECISION TO CLOSE AFTER TWENTY YEARS FEEL LIKE A NATURAL ENDING?

Totally! It was the right moment to turn the page, we didn’t want to repeat ourselves. So after 20 years, it was the natural move, and we’re even more relieved we closed when we see everything which happened after.

YOU LAUNCHED THE CONSULTING COMPANY "JUST AN IDEA," WHERE YOU CONTINUE TO EMBRACE COLLABORATION THROUGH SEVERAL MEDIUMS, INCLUDING CONCEPTUAL BOOKS. WHAT DOES COLLABORATION MEAN TO YOU AND WHAT MAKES A COLLABORATION SPECIAL?

I love collaborations! When they make sense! With JUST AN IDEA, I mostly help brands to develop the right collaborations, but it is also a lot of connections and curating. I’m happy I launched JUST AN IDEA books to publish the work of creative talents I respect. It’s a collection that always has the same format.

THE MCLAUGHLIN EDITION OF YOUR LATEST COLLECTION OF BOOKS FEATURES A FORWARD FROM MUSICIAN PHARRELL WILLIAMS, AND YOU ALSO CONTRIBUTED TO HIS 2018 "A FISH DOESN'T KNOW IT'S WET." WHAT DREW YOU TO INCLUDE PHARRELL SPECIFICALLY FOR THE FORWARD?

Nicole McLaughlin suggested Pharrell Williams for the introduction of her book because he sent her a few messages of support. I’m not sure she realized I knew him from many previous collaborations at Colette. To me, Pharrell is a genius!

YOU OFTEN TEAM UP WITH DESIGNERS AND BRANDS FOR LIMITED-EDITION WORK TO BE SOLD. HOW DO YOU GO ABOUT CHOOSING COLLABORATORS THAT YOU FEEL CAN ALLOW A BALANCE BETWEEN YOUR STYLE AND THEIRS?

I don’t even ask myself the question, it’s just a feeling. I have always worked with instinct. It is a "yes" or "no," I can’t really explain why.

YOU HAVE BEEN A TRAILBLAZER IN THE CROSSOVER OF STREETWEAR INTO HIGH FASHION, ARGUABLY HAVING A MASSIVE IMPACT ON MODERN FASHION AS WE KNOW IT. DO YOU HAVE ANY THOUGHTS ABOUT HOW BOUTIQUES AND THE FASHION INDUSTRY AS A WHOLE CAN CONTINUE TO OPEN ITS DOORS TO FRESH TAKES ON LUXURY, AND NOT PURELY STICK TO WHAT WE KNOW AS "TRADITIONAL" LUXURY-WEAR?

It’s easy for me to say "it’s about time to change everything," but I understand the system has been here for a long time, and I don’t have solutions, so I think it’s to each person in the industry, designer or retailer, to do what they really know and to maintain quality over quantity.