The Tamesis
There are fashion founders, there’s JJ Martin. La DoubleJ founder and creative director joins Nicole Phelps on this Tuesday’s show penetrate Discussing the opening of The Lighthouse, her new five-story flagship store on the Upper East Side, which not only sells fashion and homewares, but also features a “Lamp Temple” dedicated to meditation, sound healing, and community gatherings. The mission of the space, Martin explained, is to create “raise your vibration stations” where people can connect with things outside of business.
This philosophy is inseparable from La DoubleJ itself. After moving to Milan for love in 2001, Martin found herself covering fashion shows from what she nicknamed “row 55,” eventually catching the attention of Suzy Menkes and building a successful journalism career. Years later, however, she found herself searching for something more.
When it came to starting her company, “I was just following the rocket of joy,” Martin said. Her advice to aspiring entrepreneurs is equally straightforward: “Follow your joy. Anything you do for free on your evenings and weekends has value.”
Martin also explains how she turned her hobby of collecting vintage clothing into one of the most recognized print brands in fashion, starting with a silk dress made by historic Lake Como manufacturer Mantero. Along the way, she became a passionate ambassador for Italian craftsmanship and culture. “Italians know how to live,” she said. “They know how to laugh. They know how to eat. They know how to rest.”
Even though last year’s wildfires stymied her plans to open a La DoubleJ store in Pacific Palisades — in addition to destroying her childhood home and her grandmother’s house — Martin remains focused on what’s ahead, including what she sees as necessary shifts in the fashion industry. “Beauty has power,” she said, calling on the industry to be less greedy, more respectful of craftsmanship and strengthen its collective sense of purpose.
For anyone considering a career change, dreaming of starting a business, or just wanting to remind themselves that fashion can still bring joy, this conversation provided a lot to think about.
