Words by Allegra Salvadori | Photography by Edoardo Delille
Marie Claire Maison Arabia visits Milan to meet J.J. Martin — the radiant force behind La DoubleJ, the brand that has transformed joy, colour, and consciousness into a way of living.
I land in Milan on a still-summery morning, the air soft and bright. In my T-shirt, I walk through quiet streets toward J.J. Martin’s home — the radiant mind behind La DoubleJ, the brand that has turned joy, colour, and consciousness into a lifestyle. Once a fashion journalist, now a spiritual tastemaker designing kaleidoscopic dresses, tableware, and interiors, J.J. has mastered the art of weaving beauty and energy into one seamless rhythm. Before our interview, I had asked if we might begin with a meditation. J.J. smiles — of course.
She leads me into her meditation room: deep navy walls, a ceiling hand-painted with gold constellations, light streaming through tall windows. We sit cross-legged on soft cushions; Pepper, her pug, curls up beside me. I feel unexpectedly at ease. J.J. invites me to choose a crystal from a bowl of shimmering stones. I pick a blue one, without thinking. Later, back home in Amsterdam, I’ll look up its meaning — and the coincidence will leave me breathless. But more on that later. I’ve attended retreats before, but this feels different: intimate, charged, almost otherworldly. J.J. has a gift — not only as one of the most original designers of our time, but as a woman who opens portals to a quieter, higher frequency. When we finish, we move into her living room — lush with plants, colourful walls, and vivid objects that seem to hum with life.
Many women see their homes as both sanctuary and self-portrait. What does a home reflect for you?
Our homes are like a second body — a vessel for our consciousness. It’s important to keep them tidy and beautiful, not in a material sense but as acts of respect. My meditation room, for example, is a space for quiet and reconnection — free from devices and distractions. And beauty itself carries frequency: from the rose windows of a church to a blooming flower. Bringing living things — plants, crystals, colour — into a home keeps it vibrant and grounded.
Wellness seems to transcend everything you do. How do you bring spiritual wellness into design — in your home and in La DoubleJ?
From the very beginning, La DoubleJ carried a high vibration. Our motto is “Raise Your Vibration”. We express that through colour, pattern, joy, openness — everything we make is meant to uplift. Whether you buy a plate, walk into one of our stores, or see one of our prints, it’s about energy. Our new jewelry line continues that mission, using symbols from The Ancient Egyptian Mystery School — the scarab, the Shen Loop of protection — and gemstones chosen for their frequency. At our Milan headquarters, we’ve even created a Galactic Deck for meditations and gatherings. To me, design is where heaven and earth, passion and spirituality, commerce and consciousness all mix.
How do you choose what belongs in your home?
Objects are companions — conductors of energy. I’m not a fan of empty spaces; I fill them with purpose. Everything in my house is chosen consciously. It doesn’t have to be expensive, just aligned. The vibration must feel right.
You’re speaking to women in the Arab world, where homes carry deep cultural and emotional meaning. Why do you think people everywhere feel so deeply connected to their homes?
Because beauty is universal. It crosses borders and speaks a shared language. Homes work the same way — they’re portraits of our inner world. That’s why we’re drawn to them. After years of entertaining, I now value stillness and spaciousness. It’s not about being protective, but about choosing what energy you allow in. That’s where real luxury lies.
What does ‘setting the table’ mean to you?
Setting a table means being creative — bringing ceremony into the everyday. Even a simple lunch in my office becomes special when we use our La DoubleJ bowls and placemats. It’s about honouring the moment. That’s what Italians teach the world: meals are sacred. Food and beauty are great equalisers; they unite people. A table is like a small altar — a daily opportunity to honour yourself and others. When I decorate, intention is everything. Each object must have love or meaning. Aesthetic alone isn’t enough. A home should feel personal — a reflection of the soul, not a showroom.
I leave J.J.’s home feeling both awakened and serene — moved by her ability to merge spirit and matter, consciousness and colour. There’s something healing about her world: the way she raises vibration through beauty and joy. Back in Amsterdam, I recall that morning — the meditation, the laughter, the kaleidoscopic rooms — and the blue crystal I picked from her bowl. Curious, I look up its meaning: “Blue crystals are linked to calm, trust, wisdom, communication, and spiritual connection. They open the throat chakra, enhancing self-expression and truth, and the third eye, awakening intuition and insight.”
What a coincidence — or perhaps not — to have chosen it on the day I was interviewing J.J., a woman whose life and work radiate exactly that: trust, communication, and consciousness through beauty.
