Jupe by Jackie Creates A New Line of Housewares

Age is just a number for Dutch designer Jackie Villevoye, who, at 53, launched Jupe by Jackie, a line of ready-to-wear and home goods garnished with embroideries crafted by artisans of the Indian province of Uttar Pradesh. From midi skirts to bow ties, everything from the brand is finished off with embroidered motifs—simplistic daisy florets or off-kilter polka dots in a crayon box color palette to evoke childhood whimsy. In 2013, Jupe by Jackie was just 3 years old when it caught the eye of tastemaker extraordinaire Rei Kawakubo. “The right hand of Ms. Kawakubo, ‘found’ me while I was exhibiting at Tranoï in Paris,” explains Villevoye, who has collaborated with Comme des Garçons ever since.

Twice a year, Villevoye sends her embroidery designs to the CDG atelier for Kawakubo and her team to use on CDG pieces and the brand’s sub-labels. Of the fruitful partnership with Kawakubo, Villevoye says, “I respect and admire her enormously! She is beyond the planet. Her shapes are extraordinary, so my shapes need to be me more simple, otherwise the embroideries get lost underneath pleats or drapes. What we both have in common is the girlish look.”

Recently, Jupe by Jackie launched a line of home goods, in which the brand’s beloved quirk was translated into cushions, wall hangings, and more. In honor of the Met’s upcoming retrospective on Rei Kawakubo, Jupe by Jackie created three hand-embroidered throw pillows inspired by Comme des Garçons designs. “Stripes, polka dots, and lush flowers are all characteristics that Mrs. Kawakubo uses throughout many of her collections,” says Villevoye. “And I dedicate these cushions to her.”