[EN] Fabien Baron | Creative Director & Photographer : Reinventing the Fashion Narrative

TheBoldWay (ex EDLM)

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Today, I am thrilled to welcome "the one and only", the pope of art directors, Fabien Baron. In this episode, we explore his extraordinary journey, from his studies at the School of Applied Arts to his departure for New York, where he established himself as a creative director for renowned publications such as Vanity Fair, GQ, Self Magazine, and Interview Magazine.
Fabien guides us through his remarkable professional path, from his work for prestigious fashion magazines as a creative director to his ventures in advertising alongside names like Steven Meisel or Peter Lindbergh, up to becoming the art director of Vogue Italy alongside Franca Sozzani and the creation of his own company, Baron & Baron — a distinguished design and advertising agency. Among his notable collaborations, he worked with Calvin Klein, where he crossed paths with model Kate Moss, launching her career. His portfolio also includes projects for Issey Miyake’s perfume line, Madonna’s Sex Book, advertisements for Barney’s, and many more.
Our conversation also delves into the importance of cultivating a distinctive point of view and narrative in your visuals, the need for coherence in imagery, what makes a great creative director, how to create something new each time, and reflections on the future of fashion imagery and advertising.
Join us for an inspiring and fascinating two-hour conversation with a pioneer in the fashion industry, offering insights that will captivate and inspire, especially those aspiring to a career in the creative industries.

➜ TheBoldWay Newsletter: https://www.theboldway.fr/newsletter

What you will learn in this episode:

00:07:20 - Who is Fabien Baron ?
00:08:18 - How he started his career
00:14:30 - His decisive encounter with Alexander Liberman leading to a job at Vanity Fair
00:18:05 - The importance of words in image
00:19:21 - What he learned through working in newspapers
00:22:37 - The importance of having an image that tells a story
00:25:12 - His need to give meaning in images
00:28:40 - How he brought something different at New York Woman Magazine
00:31:10 - Working in advertising with Barney’s and Steven Meisel
00:33:45 - Being the Art Director of Vogue Italia
00:45:10 - The one lesson he learned from Franca Sozzani
00:46:50 - His shift to Interview Magazine
00:59:10 - Being at the service of photographers through art direction
00:59:45 - His definition of a good creative director
01:02:26 - His obsession for newness in his work
01:04:06 - Creation of Baron & Baron’s company
01:09:26 - Working for Harper’s Bazaar and introducing Peter Lindbergh
01:14:45 - What makes a good photographer in fashion
01:18:21 - The challenges of being a photographer in today’s world
01:23:20 - His approach to orchestrating a successful shoot and being in the moment
01:27:09 - How does he create something new each time
01:31:33 - Collaboration with Calvin Klein and Introducing Kate Moss
01:36:46 - What he’s the most proud of in his career
01:39:49 - How to sell a product in the right way - “Repetition builds Reputation”
01:48:40 - His strategy for maintaining relevance
01:59:00 - What’s the future of fashion image & advertising
02:06:23 - What he would do differently if he could start all over again
02:13:26 - His book recommendation
02:13:52 - Who he would like to hear in this podcast

➜ Find all the references and photos taken during the recording at www.theboldway.fr

Nb: TheBoldWay ou The Bold Way, anciennement connu sous le nom de Entreprendre dans la mode ou EDLM , est un podcast produit et réalisé par Adrien Garcia.