It all starts with a fashion sketch…

Before a Haute Couture gown comes to life in the atelier, it first emerges as a drawing. For Julien Fournié, this stage is far more than a technical step — it is the foundation of the creative process, an intimate projection of the universe he wishes to share with his clients. Each sketch is conceived as a complete work of art, blending anatomical precision, a keen sense of movement, and visual poetry.

Fashion designs

Trained at the prestigious École de la Chambre Syndicale de la Couture Parisienne, Julien Fournié has always placed drawing at the heart of his creations. His fashion designs go beyond simply representing a garment — they tell a story, convey an emotion, and capture the essence of a character. In his sketchbooks, silhouettes come alive through fluid lines, vibrant color washes, and intricate detailing that already hint at the richness of fabrics and the complexity of future cuts.

A narrative approach

For the designer, a sketch is like a portrait of fashion. It’s not just about showing a dress, but about revealing the personality of the woman who will wear it. The attitudes, gazes, and gestures he draws suggest a distinctive character — whether it’s a film heroine, an adventurer, or a modern-day queen. This narrative approach lends his illustrations a cinematic quality, where each figure seems frozen in a precise moment of a story.

The originality of his graphic style

Julien Fournié draws inspiration from his many passions: cinema, comic books, superheroes, art history, and historical costumes. These influences populate his sketches with futuristic goddesses in metallic trench coats, princesses from reimagined fairy tales, and androgynous figures with the charisma of manga characters. This diversity of worlds fuels the originality of his graphic style.

Precision and freedom

From a technical perspective, his drawings strike a subtle balance between precision and freedom. Proportions are carefully mastered, yet the lines retain the spontaneity of an energetic hand. Color — applied in watercolor, markers, or mixed media — brings depth and texture, already suggesting the drape of a fabric or the way light will play on embroidery.

Hand drawing

In an era where digital creation is increasingly dominant, Julien Fournié remains deeply committed to hand drawing. For him, this practice is a direct dialogue between imagination and a tablet — a moment of absolute focus where the idea materializes without any filter. Often kept as treasured archives, these sketches bear witness to the evolution of his style and sources of inspiration over time.

Ultimately, Julien Fournié’s fashion designs : It all starts with a fashion sketch... are not mere preparatory tools: they are the beating heart of his creative process — the first incarnation of a dream that will, months later, unfold on the Parisian catwalks in all its splendour.