A communication specialist collaborating with brands such as Ann Demeulemeester, Botter and Haider Ackerman, Ibtissame Bellehouane connects art and its creators to wider audiences. Based in Paris, she lives with her fiancé and their copious collection of books. Managing communications for Parisian brand, Lemaire, she translates their philosophy of understated elegance and functionality through the language of social media, campaigns and partnerships. After a decade of experience in the industry – working for Marc Jacobs in New York to Mytheresa in Bavaria – for Ibtissame, the best communication occurs when genuine connections are made with the right audiences and meaningful messages are conveyed with originality and integrity.
01 IF I HAD TO EXPLAIN WHAT I DO TO SOMEONE, I WOULD SAY
that I help brands and designers communicate in an honest and sincere way to the public. Getting the right message to the right audience is most important to me.
*Pictured here: Lemaire's AW22 collection.
02 WHAT I LOVE MOST ABOUT MY ROLE AS A COMMUNICATOR IS
being in touch and exchanging ideas with talented people from different fields and having the chance to pick their brains. It is a privilege to make creatives’ concepts come to life and to translate them to a wider audience. I love connecting people and promoting projects I believe in. Being behind the scenes and contributing to a project bigger than myself is really what drives me.
03 THE BIGGEST MYTH ABOUT PARISIAN WOMEN IS
The "Parisienne" is a monolithic view of femininity. I wish we could detach ourselves from the concept of a diaphanous, white, skinny girl in a spaghetti strap dress and a basket… The Parisian women I know come from so many different backgrounds, have different body shapes and skin tones. More than anything, they are ambitious, creative and can’t be limited to a look.
04 FIVE PLACES IN PARIS EVERYONE SHOULD VISIT
1 – Musee d’Orsay*: the most beautiful museum in my opinion. 2 – "Bistrot Paul Bert" and "Aux Crus de Bourgogne" for classic French food. 3 – "Ju-Ji Ya" for the best bento. 4 – "A Mi-chemin" for the best couscous. 5 – "Miznon" for the green beans and pitas. *Pictured here.
05 SOMEONE I DISCOVERED RECENTLY IS
Noviadi Angksapura – An art brut artist based in Jakarta. He said he met a supernatural creature that sent him messages, among those, the one of living honestly and patiently. Ever since, his mission has been to transcribe these messages through his art – mostly ball pen drawings – that look like mantras, prayers, animals, vibrations… All his work is made in the presence of this "spirit" and there is something quite magical and raw about it.
06 THE ITEM OF CLOTHING I HAVE TREASURED THE LONGEST IS
an orange, wool Comme des Garçons sweater I bought when I was 19 at a sample sale in a church in NYC. Just looking at it makes me very happy, I have so many memories of wearing it. My youngest brother also gifted me a leather bracelet that means a lot to me.
07 I WAS MOST RECENTLY INSPIRED BY
Gunia Project: a Ukrainian brand offering ceramics and other objects. I bought a sugar bowl with hand-painted drawings reminiscent of Ukrainian naive paintings, with the cutest golden shrimp on top. It inspired me to research traditional Ukrainian myths and craftmanship.
08 A CREATIVE WHOSE WORK I NEVER TIRE OF
James Turrell. I would love to visit all the Skyspaces in the world, or at least to spend a night in his House of Light In Japan. Marina Abramovic’s work in general: her work touches me to my very core. Ditto Yayoi Kusama or Takashi Homma.
IBTISSAME'S FAVOURITE THINGS
01 "Racines"; Simone Tondo's restaurant in Paris – the last place she ate at and loved.
02 The "Substantial Wings" hoop earrings in gold vermeil.
03 Elsa Peretti's Thumbprint glasses feature high on Ibtissame's wishlist.
04 "Une Seconde d'Eternité" à la Bourse du Commerce: the last exhbition she enjoyed.
05 Jakuta Alikavazovic's "Comme un Ciel en nous": the book she's absorbed by.