Stephan Janson

Stephan Janson (1957) is a French fashion designer, based in Italy.

His neighbor in Paris was Yves Saint-Laurent, in Rue Spontini. Although he had never met him in person, he visited his atelier, observing, chatting with his premieres, and watching the rehearsals. He was fascinated by couture. Some basic elements of his fashion were probably inspired by Laurent: the oblique cut, the frills falling down in a certain way, his love for geometric patterns.

In Paris he studied at Saint Roch's School of the Chambre Syndicale de la Haute Couture. He then worked for some French clothing brands and, for some time, for Kenzo.

In 1980 he moved to New York, invited by Diane Fürstenberg, who entrusted him with the direction of all the licenses of her clothing line and, later, of her couture Collection. Janson retained the memory of the taste for comfortable and practical clothes from this experience, which always plays down his highly tailored Collections.

In 1986 he opened his own atelier in Milan and, in 1988, he creates his distribution company, Apolide. He collaborates, as style consultant, with some Italian clothing companies.

In 1998 he was hired to design Pucci's Collections, which turned out to be a short experience.