BELLOTTI DEBUTS AT JIL SANDER WITH MUSICAL VENTURE

Summary:

• Simone Bellotti replaced Lucie and Luke Meier as Jil Sander's creative director in March 2024
• His first project involves a disco EP and music video created with Bochum Welt, rather than fashion
• The work explores the brand's core duality between minimalism and emotional tension

Simone Bellotti has chosen music as his opening statement at Jil Sander. The designer, who took over creative direction in March after the departure of Lucie and Luke Meier in February, launched his tenure with an EP and accompanying music video rather than a traditional fashion collection.

The project stems from Bellotti's interpretation of the fashion house's fundamental character. He identifies the brand as inherently driven by opposing forces: extreme simplification balanced against emotional tension, rigour paired with lightness, and discipline meeting freedom.

Working alongside electronic music producer Bochum Welt, Bellotti developed a disco playlist that functions as a narrative of contrasts. The collaboration resulted in both audio and visual components designed to establish a personal atmosphere while maintaining dialogue with the brand's history.

The accompanying video captures this tension through Hamburg's hidden corners, where moments of calm interrupt scenes of chaos. The visual narrative reflects the same duality Bellotti sees within the fashion house itself.

This musical introduction represents Bellotti's strategy to build emotional connection through sound and imagery before presenting his fashion vision. The approach prioritizes atmosphere creation over immediate product presentation, establishing his creative philosophy through artistic expression rather than commercial output.

The project marks a departure from conventional fashion house transitions, where new creative directors typically debut with clothing collections. Instead, Bellotti uses music as his primary communication tool, suggesting his broader artistic vision for the brand's future direction.