Azede Jean-Pierre

Haitian-American Designer-Philanthropist: How Azede Jean-Pierre Succeeds Through Hybridization

What will Michelle Obama and thousands of Haitian schoolchildren have in common? They’ll have been dressed by Azede Jean-Pierre. The 30 Under 30 philanthropist and fashion designer designed both Michelle Obama’s dress for her Essence cover and is designing uniforms for Haitian elementary schools.

Though Azede Jean-Pierre only lived in Haiti for the first six years of her life, her origins from the isolated village of Pestel define her as much as her signature bug-embroidered prints. Six years after immigrating to Atlanta, Georgia, Jean-Pierre began to pencil dresses into the margins of coursework at Whitefoord Elementary School. While the other kids drew Dragon Ball-Z characters, 12-year-old Azede Jean-Pierre drew dresses—obsessing over the form, fit and silhouette—designing for Haiti.

“Fashion and philanthropy go hand-in-hand. It’s really about impact—impacting communities and women and culture.” Jean-Pierre says with a smile, sitting outside Brooklyn Fare, the grocery store in Manhattan’s Garment District with a three-Michelin star restaurant behind the cheese section. She’s taking a moment between apartment and fabric showings, wearing a white silk gauze overlaid linen skirt and knit ottoman-rib pullover top from her 2017 namesake label spring-summer collection. “I’m inspired by women who live in this world where they don’t have to impress anyone. I want to design for them because they are impressive already.”

By age 30, Jean-Pierre has accomplished more in fashion than most would in a lifetime. At the age of 24, a dress from the first Azede Jean-Pierre capsule collection graced the cover of Women’s Wear Daily. A few days later, Solange Knowles wore Azede Jean-Pierre’s signature cut white suit to Beyonce’s party.

At that time, Azede Jean-Pierre was a three-person operation out of Flatiron. Jean-Pierre recalls the momentum from her mainstream debut with Knowles’ outfit. “I had a bright idea, ‘Let’s dress Michelle Obama!’”

With zero White House connections, Jean-Pierre emailed the First Lady her lookbook. The First Lady’s team was interested. Ten days later, Michelle Obama wore a baby blue dress from her 2017 collection on the cover of Essence.

And yet, fashion alone, is not enough for Jean-Pierre.

“I’m totally inspired by the mission to do something bigger—to do something REALLY impactful.” She grasps at the sky. For the past two years, Jean-Pierre has shelved her line to focus on Haitian philanthropy, partnering with the Clinton Foundation, J/P Haitian Relief Organization and the Haitian government. “To know that an entire community’s lives are changed is like, ‘HAHA! WE WON!’” She laughs and blushes, seemingly embarrassed by her enthusiasm. “It’s the most exciting thing.”

Jean-Pierre began her full-time nonprofit work by coaching Haitian artisans, particularly female artisans on how to grow their businesses. This progressed into a partnership with factories, through which she will design uniforms for 12 Haitian elementary schools.