I'm under India's charm: Stella Jean

Half Italian, half Haitian – the brand Stella Jean's strong point has been ineffably cool prints on modern silhouettes. At the Vogue Fashion Dubai Experience, she cuts a vision in a vibrant, voluminous skirt worn with a crisp white short. Towering over everyone else, the former model talks about her design philosophy and the importance of tradition.

You started your career as a model. How did you make your transition into fashion?
I took part in a fashion scouting project for the young talents of 'Made in Italy' fashion, conceived and organised by Altaroma in collaboration with Vogue Italia. I was rejected twice and third time they selected a project which was a reflection of my culture and roots. I am an Italian from Rome, my mother is from Haiti and my father is Italian. I'm a mix of races and I reflect that in my collections.

How do you strike a balance between the commercial aspect and your ethos?
I think it can work. I can show you two to three different nations or opposite cultures in styling, it can be possible and look nice. You may choose to buy it or not but it's possible, as long as it's not a caricature. It's an example that you can work in both social and real life.

Who is the Stella Jean woman?
I like to engage women who are changing the future and who take a stand. I am not really a red carpet person.

Vogue Italia editor, Franca Sozzani said that you are one of the few designers who made it big through a glocal aesthetic. Comment.
When you are of mixed race, it comes so easily. In my Italian culture there are typical tailoring silhouettes so I just take the traditional prints which belong to the tradition of the south of the world and put them on my Italian silhouettes. When you go for holidays in those countries, you come across those amazing fabrics and you buy them and as soon as you come back to a city like New York, London or Paris you feel that 'I'd never wear them for real'. If you give them a shape that's familiar to your tradition it becomes wearable. Wearability is the most important thing.

What's your impression of India?
I am really under the charm of India. In fact, I did an editorial project with Vogue India which aimed at empowering women a month ago. They are taking a big stand against what happens to women. We are with them.

Do you ever run out of ideas?
I travel a lot. I talk a lot. It's also about knowing the tradition. I like to talk to people – what their grandmother used to wear, why this colour, why this shape. You have to study and research.