JimmyPaul x Pokémon Preview

SøEdited Team
Article: Lucy Ashburner
SøEditor-in-Chief: Chris Saint Sims 
​SøFashion Director: Savannah Barthorpe

London Fashion Week means one thing - editors, buyers and influencers alike are scrambling to piece together an itinerary for the week, decisively choosing which shows are ‘must sees’. One designer who is surely at the top of the pile is JimmyPaul, as he is set to show his new collection in collaboration with Pokémon in Shoreditch on Saturday evening.

The looks are undoubtedly going to be classic JimmyPaul - which means innovative silhouettes, vibrant colours and bold textures. To add to the typical excitement we see exploding on his runways, the Dutch designer has constructed this collection - entitled ‘Roam’ - around 10 distinctive worlds, each rooted in an influence connected to specific Pokémon. This isn’t the first time we’ve seen JimmyPaul collaborate with a youthful phenomenon - in the past we’ve seen collections with both Hello Kitty and Bratz - however Pokémon has been a career-long dream.

The Amsterdam-based designer also pulled from an additional wide range of creative references when creating ‘Roam’, from his Indonesian Heritage to 2000s punk and everything in between. Whilst we can speculate, you never quite know what JimmyPaul will produce next, and with such diverse sources of inspiration, this show is most definitely solidified on the ones to watch list. 
 
Keeping in line with his past works and brand ethos, sustainability has not been an afterthought in the production process of ‘Roam’. There is no green-washing in sight - the majority of the looks that will be sent down the runway have been created from vintage materials and deadstock textiles, in addition to some reworked fabric from previous collections.

​We were fortunate enough to catch up with JimmyPaul ahead of the show, and here’s what he had to say:
 
SO:
You’ve collaborated with both Bratz & Hello Kitty  which are arguably phenomenons in the fashion world - especially when you look towards 2000s trends. What drew you towards Pokémon for this collection?
 
JP:
Ever since I started in fashion, fresh out of art academy, I dreamed of collaborating with Pokémon. It was always on my wish list. So, when all the stars aligned, I felt like the fashion gods had heard my prayers. I must have manifested in my sleep a meeting with Pikachu and Eevee… because it happened.
 
I love everything about Pokémon: the heritage, the universe they’ve built, and the fact that it’s such a global phenomenon. It’s nostalgic, but also timeless. For me, it’s truly an honor and a privilege to work with something that has shaped so many childhoods, including mine.
 
SO:
This upcoming collection is built around 10 distinct worlds that differ quite significantly from each other - from your Indonesian heritage to 90s surf culture. How did you land on each of these ‘worlds’ and how do they blend together to produce a cohesive collection?

JP: 
Each world is rooted in one strong influence that connects organically to a specific Pokémon, through its aesthetic, personality, or a memory. I wanted to invite the viewer into my mind and show where my inspiration comes from.
 
The Pokémon in the collection aren’t just my favorites, they’re symbols of these different inspiration worlds I created.
 
Is it cohesive in the traditional sense? Maybe not, but that’s the point. I don’t draw inspiration from just one universe. My brain is more like a chaotic Tumblr page from 2011: fashion references, childhood nostalgia, pop culture, personal heritage, random obsessions. They all live together. Somehow, in the end, it makes sense because it’s authentically me.

SO:
Your handcrafted clothes are vibrant and bold - what draws you to such bright colours and fun silhouettes? Will we see more of this in the upcoming collection?

JP:
You will always see bright colours and playful silhouettes in my work. That’s just who I am.

Why am I drawn to them? Honestly… I don’t know. I just always have been. There’s no deep intellectual explanation. I simply love colour. I love shape. I love things that feel joyful and expressive.
 
Sometimes there doesn’t have to be a bigger meaning, sometimes it’s enough to just really, really like something.
 
SO:
A fun question to finish - you have dressed some huge celebrities in the past, such as Ariana Grande, Rihanna and Paris Hilton. If you could dress any celebrity in JimmyPaul x Pokémon, who would it be and why?
 
JP:
When designing this collection, I actually imagined a celebrity for almost every look. It really helps me. Designing with someone specific in mind makes the garment come alive and makes the process more intuitive.
There were quite a few names, but some kept coming back: Chappell Roan, Addison Rae, Beyoncé, Lady Gaga… and honestly, any of the Real Housewives.
 
I would be very happy with one of them. Or all of them. Preferably all at once. Why choose?