Capsule collection OLOW x Jean Jullien – “Club Dimanche”
A colourful world full of light-hearted characters and animals tinged with humour, Jean Jullien’s creations are recognised all around the globe.
Hailing from Nantes, the illustrator trained at Central Saint Martins and the Royal College of Art in London. Influenced by cartoons and comics, his illustrations often deal with contemporary social issues. He has a knack for storytelling, using his recognisable, clean and colourful style, which definitely puts smiles on people’s faces. Jean Jullien likes to use different mediums to showcase his creations, and his illustrations can nowadays be found on clothes, ceramics or even skateboards.
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A friend of the brand for a few years now, we have already collaborated with him on many occasions. “We get along well, with Mathieu and Valentin. I like their vision and the respect they show my work, it makes you want to do well.”
For this season, we’re honoured to be able to welcome Jean for a new collaboration, Club Dimanche (Sunday Club). “We’re doing the exact opposite, working around the Sunday, it’s quite wintery but still shows a lot of humour.” Sunday, that day of the week where relaxing is key, a weekly ritual where everybody goes about their business: lying-in, brunching with friends, walking the dog or taking long improvised siestas.
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Jean now lives in London and feels a slight tinge of nostalgia when reminiscing about French Sundays when everything stops. “I grew up kind of hating Sundays in France where everything closes. The town would just shut down. That ghost-town vibe mortified me. I have been living in England for eleven years now, so I only have distant memories of those infamous French Sundays. Everywhere stays open on a Sunday, here… But I do feel nostalgic for those days when everything stops, when the repetition that characterises the week so well just ceases.”
Together, we created pieces around that theme, mixing a casual style with noble and original materials, and a muted colour palette brought to life by the artist’s light-hearted humour representing the Sunday’s inherent laziness: “the laziness which characterises Sundays so well matches with this new obsession for cocooning that we see filling up and magnified on social media: staying underneath the covers, watching films on the computer…”
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Another key aspect of this capsule collection: the dog. Man’s famous companion, the animal inspires the artist quite a bit. “The dog is an excellent “character” that I like to use in my images as a part of a static staging where each graphic element takes on a narrative importance.”
So, whether you’re an inveterate sloth or an obsessive hyperactive on a Sunday, come join us at Club Dimanche!
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This isn’t your first collaboration with OLOW; what made you want to do this new collaboration?
We have indeed worked together a few times with Mathieu and Valentin, we get along well. I like how they see things and the respect they have for my work, it makes you want to do a good job. we had already done a collection around the theme of the beach, and now we’re going in the opposite direction and doing one that’s rather more wintery, on Sundays, but still with that hint of humour.
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Our new capsule collection this season is called « Club Dimanche ». What did this theme inspire you?
I grew up kind of hating Sundays in France where everything closes. The town would just shut down. That ghost-town vibe mortified me. I have been living in England for eleven years now, so I only have distant memories of those infamous french Sundays. Everywhere stays open on a Sunday here. But I do feel nostalgic for those days when everything stops, when the repetition that characterizes the week so well just ceases. The laziness that characterizes Sundays also tallies with this obsession for cocooning that seems to be taking over social media: staying in bed all day, watching films on the computer, etc.
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There are a lot of dog prints in this collection, how did this happen? Have you adopted a dog recently?!
No but I have always wanted one! The dog also matches with that slow side of Sundays. The dog sleeping on its mat, looking out the window, with an absent look on its face…
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And you, what do you get up to on Sundays? Are you part of this « Club Dimanche »?
It depends on where I am. But if I’m in London, I spend it with my family or with friends. We go to exhibitions and have a few drinks afterwards, that kind of thing. I like Sundays, now.
Credit photo : Sidi-Omar Alami
