Jérôme Dreyfuss was born in Nancy in 1974. He moved to Paris at the age of 17 to study fashion at l’École Esmode, but left three months later to undertake a work placement at John Galliano. Jérôme launched his debut womenswear collection, Couture à Porter, in 1998, when he was just 23 years old. Bold and elegant, with a quirky sense of humour, it placed the young Paris based designer firmly on the fashion map and prompted the press to pronounce him, “The enfant terrible of French fashion”.
Women first
Jérôme’s debut accessories collection, Roots de Luxe, launched in 2002 to instant critical acclaim. Small yet perfectly formed, the understated yet elegant handbags immediately found a fan base amongst the stylish, young girls of Paris, and the Jérôme Dreyfuss brand was officially launched. Fast-forward eleven years and Jérôme Dreyfuss has cemented his reputation as the go to designer for chic, understated accessories with innovative, heart-warming twists. His bags are designed to ‘perfectly match’ your lifestyle… and are instantly recognisable for their exquisite craftsmanship, generous volumes and clever design details, including multiple straps to allow carrying by hand or over the shoulder, removable wallets, key rings and mini-flashlights to help you find your keys. Jérôme prides himself on working with the world’s finest materials – butter soft calfskin, lambskin, goatskin or reptile skin – to create bags that are adored by women of all ages across the globe. He christens each bag a male name as a reflection of his own personality and the brand’s friendly, down to earth appeal. “I’m the kind of guy who is always making jokes at the office,” Jérôme explains. “I like to laugh, and naming each bag is an extension of my humour.” After all, who could resist the charms of ‘Billy’? Be apart from ‘Edouard’, or fail to be driven wild by ‘Momo’…?
Around the world
Jérôme Dreyfuss’ bags may have found their way onto the arms of the most stylish women in the world, including Julianne Moore, Kiera Knightley, Sarah Jessica Parker, Diane Kruger and Jessica Biel to name a few. But for Jérôme spotting someone on the street wearing one of his designs is far more important than a celebrity endorsing it. So what makes a Jérôme Dreyfuss design stand out from the crowd? “I only do what I like,” he states simply. “I work in a really honest way. I don’t follow trends. I’m inspired by my friends and the stylish women I see in the street.”