video available here.
Camille : Can you please introduce yourself?
Marine : My name is Marine, I’m 29, I’m the founder of Les Garçonnes, a brand exclusively dedicated to trousers for women.
Camille : How did you find your vocation?
Marine : After High School, I went to London. At that time, I already knew I wanted to practice manual work. An artistic vocation such as architect, painter, sculpter… I didn’t really know yet, what exactly, at that time. I attended Fashion Design School. Someone I knew was in this school and she introduced me to the educational leader. Years went by and I realised how much I liked it. How hard it was to stop practicing… and more than everything else, I truly felt pleasure doing this. It didn’t feel like a duty. I wake up every morning with joy. It feels more like leisure than work. I felt strange at the beginning, to call it a ‘job’. I graduated top of the class from school, it gave me trust and confidence about my work…
Camille : …and what about your brand ? When did it start?
Marine : One year ago (more or less), I picked up stuff from my grandmother’s cloak room. Some trousers with pleats, were too large for me but I loved wearing them. I have always been a ‘tomboy’ without shame. Many people told me : « your pants are awesome, it’s difficult to find them » or « they’re originals… », with beautiful colours and materials. Then time went by and I told myself it would be great to do something about this. My grandmother passed away and something clicks into place… I was working as a freelance for years and various brands. I never really found a brand that I really love. One day, I felt ready about creating my own brand. It was the right time. I jumped in !
Camille : What are your values as an artist ?
Marine : What I do really like is to share. In other words, every time I sell one of my creations I like to get feedback from my customers. Do you feel good ? Does it feel too tight ? Does it feel too short ? Even if it’s criticism… On the contrary it’s very constructive… As my brand is growing, the better I will get, the larger my collection will be. I will be able to answer women’s expectations on a large scale. That’s definitely Sharing… Women once told me « your pants are great, you should do something about it ». Today I answer, saying « here I am, with my creations I hope you will like it ! »
Camille : What is your main mission as an artist?
Marine : I would love my brand to remain over time. I started with ‘timeless pants’ style, for a reason. The aim is that you can still wear my creations in 20 years. And why not, granddaughters can wear them one day… Today, wearing trousers with pleats is fashionable. I wish that even out of fashion, it remains like this.
All generations wear your creations.
Yes definitely, that’s great. Both my mother and my niece wear my creations. From 15 to 70 years old it’s working. Still, I have to carry on, creating more and more, tailored to every generation and desire. Even in 10 years you can still keep it and wear it again.
Camille : What are your rituals?
Marine : With materials, it’s love at first sight. I regularly visit my suppliers in Paris. I’ve been working with them for years. They offer new materials. Touching, feeling… it’s really impulsive with the material. I see myself in it right away. I touch it and I realise how great it will be. Since I want people to feel great and comfort(able) using my trousers. In Winter, especially it should be very cocooning. I’m looking for soft and comfortable materials. Flexible and lasting at the same time. There is a true research on materials.
Camille : What makes your brand unique?
Marine : First, I’m specialised in trousers. Nowadays, more and more brands are doing mono-product. It’s clearly a new tendency. Trousers, it’s something I wear everyday. It’s a true urge, once I create, I can see myself wearing it. After that not everyone is ‘tomboy’ like me. I really want comfort. When I’m selling one of my creations, I really want to share it with my customers. What really makes a difference… it gives me joy and I want to share this joy with others. I think that’s already a great start.
Camille : Where do you get your inspiration?
Marine : More than the material, I have muses. There are important women for me… For example, I named my first five creations : Lauren Bacall, Katharine Hepburn, Marlene Dietrich, Jane Birkin… actress from the 50s and iconic women. They left their mark with their independence and appeal. They were a little tomboy but really feminine as well. Those women reflect perfectly my brand. They are also models for me, what I would like to be or what I have been in the past… I know my next creation will get the name of my grandmother it’s a little wink 😉
What was her name?
Marine: Jeanne. There are my favourites. Jeanne it’s also Jeanne d’Arc, Jane Birkin… that’s a name coming back a lot in my inspirations. I read a lot books, where I can find names of inspirational women. I will carry on that way…
La boutique Les Garçonnes, now available on Solybox.com
