Joseph Altuzarra
Founded by Creative Director Joseph Altuzarra in 2008, Altuzarra is a luxury women’s ready-to-wear and accessories brand. Joseph's seductive aesthetic combines modernity, femininity, and an unapologetic sexiness, offering a fresh perspective on the modern woman's wardrobe. Born and raised in Paris, Joseph Altuzarra has been interested in the transformative power of fashion from a young age. He draws from his french, American, and Chinese background and his avid interest in different facets of culture and art to create his rich and sophisticated collections.
Since the launch of Altuzarra in 2008, Joseph has received numerous accolades for his work, from Forbes 30 under 30 and the Vogue Fashion Fund award to the Woolmark Prize. In 2014, Joseph won the council of fashion designers of America's prestigious womenswear designer of the year, and in 2017, the accessories council’s designer of the year.
“My mission is to design a modern wardrobe for women to feel confident and sexy in their everyday lives."
The Altuzarra Boutique in the Upper East Side of Manhattan designed by Studio Giancarlo Valle
What is your first memory of fashion or design? I have a very vivid recollection of watching a french movie called Peau D’Ane when I was maybe 5 or 6 years old, and being fascinated with the costumes. In the movie, Catherine Deneuve has a dress made from sunshine and a dress made from moonlight, and I would watch the movie over and over again, just to see the dresses.
What is the first piece you designed? I designed and made a dress made from paper and glue for a Barbie doll.
Who or what inspires you? I’m inspired by everything that I see, hear, and watch. I think you have to be a sponge, and be open to everything because you never know where inspiration will come from.
You were born and raised in Paris to a Chinese-American mother and French-Basque father. How did these multi-cultural elements influence your aesthetic and design? I think that growing up in a multicultural household is a defining influence in my design. A lot of my work is about questioning and reimagining identity, which in large part stems from my own experience with multicultural identity. My work as a designer is, I think, quite personal and intimate because I draw so much on my own experiences, and my own feelings.
How did you find yourself in NYC? What do you miss most about France? From the moment I arrived in New York, I felt an immediate sense of being home— I never had a period of adjustment or unease, I really felt like a New Yorker from the very beginning. But there are definitely things I miss about France- it’s quieter, the pace of living is slower, and the bread!
Where do you dream of traveling next? I am dying to go back to Japan. I loved Tokyo so much, and I’d love to explore more of the city— there is so much to discover and experience, one trip wasn’t enough.
You tapped AD100 Designer Giancarlo Valle Studio to design your Upper East Side Boutique. What directive did you give? I initially gave Giancarlo a mood board for the brand with a mix of some of my favorite pictures, colors, and textures. We’ve created a very specific world at Altuzarra, and I felt the store should be an extension of the brand, an embodiment of the aesthetic.
What architecture or design movements influenced you? I have always loved eighties Modernism, especially in Italy. There are so many incredible pieces from that period, the colors and textures are always odd but alluring and elegant. And that style of interior is very much tied to memories I have of growing up, because I grew up in the eighties in Paris.
What did you want the space to convey to shoppers? I wanted the space to feel like an inviting cocoon. I felt it should exude comfort and ease, but also feel polished and elegant; in essence, a space that you would want to spend time in.
Text: Veronica H. Speck Follow: @josephaltuzarra