“My real name is Jérémy Combot”, and its also the name of his (Illustrations). Straight to the point! Since Jeremy remembers he has always drawn, from copying his favorite cartoons to making up little stories with current characters but always very fashionable…
3) Where are you from?
I was born in the outskirts of Paris and have been raised near the sea in Brittany. (France)
4) Where are you currently located?
I don’t have a permanent studio, so after a few months in the UK, I like twirling between France and Switzerland.
5) When did you begin to launch your brand online?
After my graduation at University in Languages and Marketing, I wanted to do something more true to my DNA and started as a freelance illustrator in 2014.
6) Why fashion?
As a 90’s child, I always have been fascinated by the top models apogee and the pop culture exuberance. Naturally, I found fashion a way to express my obsession for beauty.
7) Do you have any education behind fashion? For example, mentorship, institutions or would you say you are self-taught?
I am a total self-taught artist. I tried once to enroll in a public French art school, but failed at the admission. Then, I realised that school wasn’t my path and practiced by myself again and again until I found my style and my special attachment to colors and details.
8) How has social media help build your brand?
It helped a lot actually! I really started having visibility via Instagram, which is a great platform for aesthetic content. I never really presented my work with the public eye before, and it was a real challenge to do it. Then, little by little, people contacted me through this social media for commission works…
Outside of the contracts that I could get from it, it also helped me a lot to connect with art lovers, other artists around the world which is the best thing ever. Being a freelancer can be really lonely sometimes so it feels very comfortable to have a nice community around.
9) What are some highlights to your success over the years?
I am not very comfortable with the word ‘success’, but I did a lot of great projects that I am still very grateful for! For example, I was invited to the Opéra Garnier during the Fashion Week by the Stella McCartney team to sketch some pieces of the new collection. It was one of my best memories.
I was also asked to be a lecturer for Art schools in London and Nantes which was a true honor for me, since I’ve never been to art school myself! Sharing with talented young designers or artists is a motivation to keep going.
11) Who are some fashion icons that inspire you?
I have so many muses that inspire me in different ways! I have a special feeling for 60s French Icons like Jane Birkin - Françoise Hardy - Juliette Greco - Anna Karina… not just about fashion properly speaking, but more about this energy of freedom and modernity that they expressed.
I also feel inspired by Iris Apfel, Vivienne Westwood, Laetitia Casta, Béatrice Dalle… it is limitless!
12) Let’s discuss the brand theft that you experienced, in detail can you describe when you found out that your brand was repurposed and what did it make you feel like as an artist?
Since I share my illustrations via the Internet, I have been the victim of theft several times. From China to Japan, Turkey or Spain, it comes from everywhere. Last time I experienced this, it was from a big clothing company in Spain that stole my work and the work of many other illustrators to create a summer t-shirt collection. None have been paid, none have been quoted or contacted. My beautiful Instagram community, as always, warned me that my work was put on t-shirts in some shops and took pictures as proof. Many illustrators whose work was stolen tried to contact this clothing company with no answer. Then, a journalist wrote an article about that in the famous El Pais newspaper mentioning the name of the company and their way of working. The t-shirt collection has finally been removed from stores.
It feels very frustrating. As you might know, being an artist/illustrator is a very precarious career and we are all fighting against free work or discount work. Having a recognition in the industry doesn’t mean living like a king with easy money, it is NOT. So, dealing with theft makes me feel very angry and powerless.
13) What are some ways to educate people on how to deter them from having similar experiences?
No surprise, but people have to be aware that the Internet can be amazing and cruel at the same time. It is a huge platform to share Art with the world and expose your work, but once it is online, it feels like it is out of control. Many people believe that online = free to use.
Finding a legal way to protect your work online (like a legal deposit) is the best option that I know. It won’t stop theft but at least it might be easier to fight back.
14) Do you believe there should be more protection online for artists in these circumstances? If so, how?
The major problem about protection is that the legislation is different in each country/continent. I think every artist should have the same online protection no matter where they come from, because we are all dealing with theft everyday. With international legal protection it would be easier to sue thieves and assert our rights.
15) Where do you see your brand in five years?
I would love to diversify myself in the fashion industry. What about launching my own environmentally friendly clothing line? I still have a lot to learn!
16) If you could give a word of encouragement to people following their dreams in the fashion industry what would that be?
Trust yourself! No one will if you don't. And be curious, beauty is everywhere.
Curator: @allison_belladonna
