When Jonathan Marc Stein, an aspiring fashion designer, stumbled upon the world of fashion and began crafting wearable masterpieces for a living, his goal became clear: to establish his own brand and offer a novel outlook on luxury apparel. Understanding that his brand would epitomize timeless fashion, Jonathan Stein embarked on a journey to create garments that would remain stylish regardless of the season. Drawing inspiration from the world surrounding him, he made sustainability a top priority and a distinguishing characteristic of his innovative approach towards shaping the future of fashion.

Ahead of his highly-anticipated leather drop this upcoming A/W season, Stein sits down with Flaunt.

‍Can you share what inspired you to create the brand, Jonathan Marc Stein?

From when I was little, I always knew I wanted to create art of some kind. I pursued painting, architecture, and design over the course of many years. Being the youngest of three kids, I did my best to stand out and I think this really pushed me to make my own mark on the world. When I discovered fashion I knew that this was all I wanted to do with my future. The way that you could create fantastic wearable works of art struck a major chord within me. I thought about working my way up through internships with other designers or labels, but I decided that I would take a leap and start up my own eponymous brand that is known today as JONATHAN MARC STEIN Atelier.  I believe my hard work and dedication really paid off. 

Did you attend school for fashion or how were you formally (or informally) introduced to it? 

I actually went to school to get my degree in Mechanical Engineering. It was not until my sophomore year that I really saw my first runway show while waiting for a class to start on YouTube. It was a 1990-something Alexander McQueen show that caught my eye and really inspired me to learn more about the industry. I then learned from videos online and taught myself the basics of sewing and design. While I was getting my degree I would sew my collections on the weekends and fly across the country to take part in my first shows.

There are so many brands out there, but for you, what did you feel was missing in the market before you started your brand? What do you hope to bring to the industry? 

There is quite a lot of competition within the fashion industry. So many brands just copy off of each other or follow the latest trends. A lot of it is unwearable or can only be worn for a season until it is out of style or out of public interest. I set out to create a brand of luxury pieces that stand out, last a lifetime, and can be worn across multiple seasons and be part of a variety of outfit styles. I hope to bring a fresh take on sustainable luxury while also providing inclusive clothing that provides individuals of all shapes, sizes, and ethnicities with beautiful garments. 

How does your design process begin each collection? 

My design process is probably much different than other fashion designers. I come at the beginning from many directions each time. Mostly, I find inspiration from my surroundings: works of art, architecture, individuals I meet or see that I find interesting, etc. Sometimes, I will skip the sketching and pattern stage and go straight to draping and creating a piece that may go on to be the center of the collection. Other times I will go at it more traditionally and go from sketch, pattern, sample, final piece, etc. From here I will begin designing other pieces that fit the theme of the collection. This process can take months or days depending on how inspired I am to create. Just like with any creative industry, there are dry spells and I even come across blocks. 

Where do you look to for inspiration?

I look for inspiration from all over. When creating a new piece or collection, each inspiration that gave birth to these pieces can originate from a variety of places. Nature and art are some of the major moving points for me. I like to say that my brand is known for creating modern lines with traditional viewpoints. So anything that transects these two design styles can help me to create the beautiful clothing that leaves my studio. Sometimes, when creating custom looks for my celebrity clients, I can take one look at this amazing person and know exactly what the final piece will look like without even sewing a stitch or lifting a pencil. As an artist my pieces constantly evolve, but the style will remain the same.

Who is the Jonathan Marc Stein muse?

My muse varies from piece to piece and collection to collection. When creating, I always envision a badass person who wants to turn heads but also feels extremely confident. If I had to choose a specific individual, it always leads back to one amazing person who always leaves it all on the red carpet: Zendaya. No matter what she wears or how controversial, she makes a mark by making it work. She can make a simple dress look couture by exuding mass amounts of charisma and confidence. 

What does it feel like to see your designs come to life and worn? Does it ever feel surreal?

It is a feeling that transcends happiness. I am always in awe of the exploration from a 2D sketch to a finished work of art that makes it's way onto a client. Many times I cannot even believe that after tearing apart, revamping, or scrapping an entire piece can result in the final product that you all see today gracing magazines, celebrity clients, or international runway shows. Really, it feels like a dream. It can be amazing living your dream career creating beautiful works of art that are forever immortalized. The look on a model or client's face that shows how happy and confident they feel in my clothing is all the gratitude I need.

Usually, when consumers see the price tag of a luxury piece, they turn the other way. How do you hope your brand shifts the way people think about buying luxury clothing? 

Many luxury brands focus on creating pieces that are "of the moment." Spending an enormous amount of money only for it to go out of style by the next season is not only outrageous, but unsustainable and wasteful. I hope to create a brand that allows the wearer to utilize a garment across multiple seasons and styles. With my latest creation, The DAN/IEL, a 2-in-1 convertible leather trench coat derived from recycled and sustainable materials, it provides multiple jackets in one that can be worn in the Spring/Summer and Autumn/Winter seasons. Luxury meets versatile meets sustainable is what I envision for the future of my company.

What’s next for JONATHAN MARC STEIN?

With the upcoming public release of The DAN/IEL convertible leather trench coat, JONATHAN MARC STEIN Atelier has some bright plans ahead. With a variety of placements in major publications, there will be a new collection coming soon featuring some beautiful new experiments with the human silhouette and versatility with luxury fashion.  

What would you say is your biggest secret weapon as a designer?

That is kind of hard to say from my perspective without coming off as biased. From when I began this journey, leather is one of my favorite mediums to work with. I have always been very skilled at utilizing the gorgeous material and have become known for creating wearable art so beautiful it can be structural and edgy yet feminine and delicate.