His fashion archive was showcased in preparation for his retrospective "Gallie Rock" in Paris by photographers Tim and Barry, modelled by Cassette Playa, M.I.A., Jammer, Matthew Stone, Slew Dem Crew, and more.[4]
As well as his imaginative clothing collections,[1][2] the designer creates home furnishings [3] and has designed a watch inspired by the childhood favourite, Lego. He also has collaborated with Swatch, Weston, Ligne Roset, Petit Bateau, Citroën, Tecnica, Kway, Coca-Cola, Vilebrequin, Aigle and Palace skateboards.
All the artistic environments he touches on have his signature rainbow chromatic range in common. One of the best examples of this is the line he created for Pope John Paul II, 500 bishops and 5,000 priests for the 1997 World Youth Day in Paris.[5]
As Keith Haring initiated him to street-art, Jean-Charles de Castelbajac uses chalk to leave his poetic mark on the walls of the world's capitals.
His career as a fashion designer started in 1968 alongside his mother, when he created Ko & Co. The first "manifesto" piece of clothing he produced was a coat he made, using the blanket he used when he was at boarding school. He founded maison Jean-Charles de Castelbajac in 1978, which he left in 2016.
Between the 1970s and the 1990s, de Castelbajac was also the artistic director of fashion houses including Max Mara and Courrèges and he co-founded Iceberg in 1974. In 1979, in consonance with pop art, he designed cartoon pullovers that have since become iconic.
In 2005, Raika was the de Castelbajac ready-to-wear license holder in Japan with retail value of €20 million.[6]
He also attended King of kitsch at Paris Fashion Week in 2010.
In 2017, he collaborated with smartphone maker OnePlus to release a collection called the "Callection"[7] that was centred around a limited edition OnePlus 5smartphone.
^ abPernet, Diane (February 2007). "IQONS Interview with JC de Castelbajac". IQONS.com. Archived from the original on 27 September 2007. The most amazing adventure of JC/DC's life so far was when he was asked to dress 5,000 priests, 500 bishops and the Pope for their visit in Paris. The theme of the collection was the rainbow based on the story of Noah and the arc. God spoke to Noah and told him that "if you see the rainbow in the sky there will be peace between me and the human race". The idea went over well but JC/DC thought it best to inform the Bishop that the rainbow was also the symbol of the gay community. The Bishop's reaction was not one of shock rather he said that nobody owned the copyright on the rainbow and that was that. Once the work was completed the Pope spoke to JC/DC: "Young man, you have used colour as a cement of faith."