Creative directors and brand strategists Juan Costa Paz and Nordine Benotmane, who founded Paris-based creative agency Convoy in 2012, are paid to think outside the box for clients from Nike  to Louis Vuitton. 

“We care about having conversations outside of the fashion echo chamber,” said Costa Paz. “I like to create tension, even if people don't like things, because I do think that it's good to try to create the conversation,” added Benotmane. 

This week on The BoF Podcast, Costa Paz and Benotmane join BoF founder and editor-in-chief Imran Amed to discuss how they do it and their paths to fashion.

Key insights:

• Convoy’s Costa Paz and Benotmane came to fashion from the worlds of music and cinema, respectively, and that’s a good thing. “The fact that both Nordine and I come from different spaces, we don't tend to abide by the rules of what makes a fashion moment,” said Costa Paz. “We're a little bit kamikaze in the way that we try to not think as the brand wants us to think,” added Benotmane.

• Over the years, Convoy has produced content around fashion shows for brands like Miu Miu, Vuitton and Balmain. Describing these moments as, “like going to war”, Paz Costa believes there is an element of both care and challenge that is required when realising ambitious ideas with clients. “Sometimes you just need to hold hands with your clients and jump together into the void. I think that we usually land very well when there is communication and transparency.”

• Convoy also leads creative direction for Condé Nast’s Vogue World, which kicked off Paris Couture Week with a pre-Olympics sports-themed extravaganza. “This is a new way of seeing media,” said Benotmane. At the same time, he recognises there is always still space to explore. “Maybe this is a new way of doing the media, but we could have told stories of the athletes, the way they prepare for the competition, their relationship to fashion, a lot of things that we maybe didn't manage to do this time because it's still a new project and it's very ambitious.” 

• Offering advice for up-and-coming creatives, Benotmane said: “Don't be scared, do it your own way.” Added Costa Paz: “Being a little bit punk also doesn't hurt.”

Additional resources 

• Vogue Names Juan Costa Paz as Global Creative Director | BoF
• ‘Vogue World’ Takes on Paris — and Sports | BoF
• Vogue World to Kick Off Couture Week With Olympics Tribute | BoF

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