Julien Vermeulen – Feather worker

Pays de la Loire – 1991

Julien Vermeulen has a diploma in fashion design. During an internship for Jean-Paul Gaultier, he was introduced to Dominique Pillard, one of the last remaining feather-makers in France, who passed on his know-how and passion. Julien subsequently completed a CAP in feather work at the Lycée Octave Feuillet. In 2015, he founded Maison Vermeulen.

His craft consists of selecting feathers, working, manipulating, enhancing, and adding them value one by one, using traditional tools such as the trimming knife and the curling knife. He transforms the feathers by dyeing, bleaching, cutting, or curling them. Part of his work is destined for art and the creation of unique pieces sold as paintings. The second part of his work is for luxury brands. His art is characterised by its black feathers, which reveal a whole universe of surprising colours in the light.

2019-2022 – Support of the Fondation EY.

2018 – Prix Savoir-faire en transmission, BDMMA.

2018 – Lauréat du Prix pour l’Intelligence de la Main, Fondation Bettencourt Schueller.

2015 – Grands Prix de la Création de la Ville de Paris, Prix Talent émergent, section métiers d’Art, BDMMA.

Research and innovation

Julien Vermeulen uses feathers from the food chain. He doesn’t limit to the natural appearance of his material, but colours it, burns it with acid and weaves it. Despite the protection for exotic feathers, there is no label for specific species. Traceability remains limited. That’s why he has created a treatment centre in his workshop. This project allows him to control the entire feather production chain.

Transmission

For Julien Vermeulen, transmission is an essential part of his work, as he himself learned from a master craftsman. Committed to passing on this dying know-how, he forms trainees and takes on apprentices thanks to the Prix Savoir-faire en transmission from the Bureau du Design, de la Mode et des Métiers d’Art (BDMMA). His workshop is intended to host a Feather worker Apprentice Training Centre.

Julien Vermeulen tries to develop interior design projects with feather. In order to optimize his production, he works with a large computer-assisted loom, and the Fondation has helped him to acquire the ad hoc software.