Julia 'Lady J' Gerard

Julia “Lady J” Gerard was a visionary fashion designer, activist, and true rebel with a cause whose work transcended style and spoke to the spirit of freedom. Born in Poland and shaped by her family’s legacy of survival — her father escaped from Auschwitz — she carried that resilience into everything she created. After immigrating to the United States, she made Los Angeles her home, opening her iconic design studio and boutique on the legendary Melrose Avenue, where her artistry became a cornerstone of the city’s fashion scene.

Lady J began her career in partnership with Yoshisada Minase, Issey Miyake’s top designer, and from there carved out her own fearless path. Her designs weren’t just clothes — they were declarations. From the red carpet to concert tours, movies, television, and music videos, she dressed some of the world’s most celebrated artists, including Prince and his band, Tina Turner, Bob Dylan, Cher, Angelina Jolie, Rihanna, Paul McCartney, Miley Cyrus, Beyoncé, and Whoopi Goldberg. Her signature peace symbol and sword bar designs became emblems of her brand: bold, iconic, and impossible to duplicate.

A fashion maven, rock ’n’ roller, flower child mystic, and creative revolutionary, Lady J believed in fashion as both personal expression and cultural movement. Following the events of September 11, 2001, she founded The Peace Gallery, a landmark dedicated to promoting nonviolence and global unity through art, music, and fashion. Her mantra, “Don’t ever waste your days not doing what you dream to do,” reflected the life she lived — one of passion, defiance, and uncompromising creativity.

Lady J’s legacy endures as a designer who fused style with activism, inspiring generations to dream boldly, wear fearlessly, and live with purpose.