Traditional pleats meet innovation and research
- Tony harnesses the beauty of silk in his pleated textile sculptures
- He is inspired by the movement of water and air
- Environmental care guides his research, such as the sea urchin-based dyes he presented in Osaka
Tony Jouanneau creates sculptural textile panels with silk, transposing haute couture techniques into artistic craftsmanship. His works evoke a sensory world in which macroscopic and microscopic intertwine. Guided by a deep respect for technique, Tony travels widely to learn from traditional artisans, sometimes drawn to a single tool or movement that gives a technique its singularity. "During a residency in Japan, I met artisans whose precision and philosophy profoundly shaped my practice," says Tony. His pleated panels made with plant-based materials for Maison Dior’s Amsterdam boutique were handcrafted in 572 hours with pleating partner Harumi Sugiura. In 2025, Tony was awarded the Grand Prix de la Création de Paris for his innovative commitment to craftsmanship and relentless explorations. He also presented Afterclub, an armchair with a silk degradé pleated trail made with Maison Laclaux, at Le Grand Palais.
Interview
- What does the name of your atelier mean?
- Sumbiosis embodies the virtuous interdependence found in nature, which in turn inspires my practice of uniting colour and textile savoir-faire through an environmentally-sensitive and collaborative form of craftsmanship.
- What role does research play in your practice?
- Research is fundamental to my practice. It was the starting point of my workshop even before developing innovative and organic textile finishings with scientists. Today, research accounts for about half of my activity.
- What challenges do you encounter in your artistic pursuits?
- One major challenge is sustaining research while running a studio. My ambition is to adapt traditional know-how to technical innovation, and this has to be managed within the model of a studio I want to see thrive.
- Where do you draw your inspiration from?
- My inspiration comes from the living world, as everything is in nature. Its intelligence, colours, rhythms and ecosystems, an innate harmony that guides my artistic process, from material choices to technical ones.
Tony Jouanneau is a master artisan: he began his career in 2009 and he started teaching in 2018
Where
Tony Jouanneau
