Jean-Paul Lespagnard is a multidisciplinary designer, artistic director, and entrepreneur, crossing frontiers between fashion, object design, live performance, and interiors.
Highly talented Belgian designer, he first came to prominence by presenting his collections at Paris Women’s Fashion Week for several years. He then broadened his universe by creating stage costumes for dance, notably by collaborating with choreographer Damien Jalet, Hermès or with artist Philippe Katerine for the costumes on his latest tour. Today, he is also exploring the field of interior design.
His work spans continents. Local cultures and craftsmanship constantly expand his creative vocabulary, shaped by deep immersion in vibrant neighborhood markets and hidden workshops. This ongoing process of discovery forms the foundation of his visual universe, with designs emerging from cultural exchange, material experimentation, practices, and the fusion of mediums.
Over the years, Jean-Paul has embraced a more nomadic approach to creation, moving beyond his Brussels creative studio to work fluidly across projects and disciplines. For the Belgian pavilion at the Osaka World Expo, he designed the hostesses’ and stewards’ outfits, a work in which his universe blends perfectly with that of Japanese manga.
On this occasion, he presented the first chapter of his new project: ‘Tableware as a Diplomatic Gesture’. Through a custom-designed scenography, the dinner table becomes a space for cultural dialogue where Belgian and Japanese cultures subtly converge. Drawing inspiration from savoir faire, materials and art of hosting, the table setting blends handcrafted objects, symbolic details, and modular design. Every element has been thought with a poetic and reusable approach to diplomatic encounters. A conversation, not just a meal.