“I surrendered to the Italian way of life,” says J.J. Martin in an interview at Milan’s famed Pasticceria Cucchi. “I caved to the power of this great country.”
Her “baby’s” revenues in 2022 grew more than 50 percent over the year prior, and Martin said she expects to close 2023 almost 20 percent above last year, while not disclosing the amounts. A day earlier, she had hosted a spiritual event for around 15 people, and every Thursday night, there is a yoga class. “So this is the whole Sisterhood part,” she said, waving away the concept of lifestyle that includes opening a hotel or launching a collection of plates. “What I’m realizing is changing today, and what people want and what they mean by their lifestyle, is their well-being. It’s their mental, emotional, spiritual and energetic well-being. It’s not just a spa day, you know.
La DoubleJ has a specific colorful imagery of prints, and asked about weathering the different cycles of fashion such as minimalism, Martin said that “everybody wants a printed dress in the summertime — even the most minimal Phoebe Philo acolyte. Like, she wants a printed summer dress for her vacation in Greece. Every single one of them.”
Asked about her mentors or designers she looks up to, she said Tory Burch has been “tremendously helpful,” as has Chiquet.