Wednesday, December 4, 2013

Interview : République Du Chiffon

Maybe you've come across her beautiful blog, maybe you've seen some of her patterns made up by the lovely Julie of Jolies Bobines or maybe you've seen her adorable book featured on Tilly and the Buttons. If you did, I know you want to know more about République du Chiffon and who's behind this beautiful French brand.
I know I did, so I had a little chat with Géraldine, the creator, and this was the result. If you prefer to read the interview in its original French form, you can find it here.
Enjoy!

✄ First of all, can you tell us something about yourself? How long have you been sewing?
My name is Géraldine, I’m 35 years old and I live and work in Lille, in Northern France. My hobbies are reading (I love science fiction and Jane Austin, I know they have nothing in common ;) ), the cinema, which is where I often get inspired, I cook and I obviously love to sew.
I started sewing after my daughter Violette was born, and it soon became my passion. I had the opportunity to enter a school for design / patternmaking where I got my degree.
The Margot blouse pattern

✄ How did you start République du Chiffon?
I started République du Chiffon in 2010, it was a fashion and sewing blog. After my degree, I wanted to make a shift towards design and patterns for home sewing, trying to create trendy styles addressed to modern seamstresses. Since the offer is still quite poor in France, I hope there is a place for me.

The Penelope dress pattern
✄ Can you tell us more about your book ("Un été couture", Tutti Frutti ed.) and your latest pattern releases?
What I try to do with my patterns, both in my book or in the downloadable patterns, it’s to offer modern styles and to make sewing democratic, making “difficult” things approachable by anyone. My hope is that the clothes made by seamstresses at home are as trendy and of good quality as what current designer offer today.

The Gérard coat pattern
✄ What are your main sources of inspiration? Your favorite designers or style icons?
I find my inspiration everywhere, in the street, in magazines, movies, illustrators, etc. I’m a big fan of street style fashion (Yvan Rodic, Sartorialist etc.) and I spend a lot of time reading fashion blogs (Le Blog de Betty, Punky B, Le blog de Pauline and many many more). As far as “style icons” are concerned, I don’t really have any, I’ve never been a big fan. I prefer anonymous people who have style, but if I have to mention one, at the moment it would definitely be Alexa Chung or Kate Bosworth

The Viviane dress and blouse pattern
All images in this post from here

✄ Where do you see your company in the future?

My wish is to make of République du Chiffon a real brand of modern patterns. It’s just the beginning of the process. I decided to leave my job to devote myself completely to the brand, so, starting next year and if everything goes well, there will be a collection of printed patterns (10 styles every season) and I’ll keep offering more downloadable patterns to very small prices so that everybody can sew République du Chiffon. I hope you’ll like it.



Thank you, Géraldine! I wish you all the best!

I'll be back soon with my version of one of her patterns! Are you curious yet? :)

Forse vi siete imbattute nel suo bellissimo blog, o magari avete visto le sue creazioni realizzate da Julie di Jolies Bobines, o magari ancora avete visto il suo libro in un post di Tilly and the Buttons. Se è così, sicuramente anche voi vorrete sapere qualcosa in più su République du Chiffon e su chi c’è dietro a questo adorabile marchio francese.

Io ero curiosissima, perciò ho fatto una chiacchierata con Géraldine, la creatrice del marchio, e questo è il risultato. Per chi preferisse leggere l’intervista nella versione originale (in francese), la può trovare qui.

Buona lettura!



✄ Innanzitutto, ci puoi dire qualcosa su di te? Da quanto tempo cuci?

Mi chiamo Géraldine, ho 35 anni e vivo e lavoro a Lille, nella Francia del Nord. I miei hobby sono la lettura (mi piacciono la fantascienza e Jane Austin, so che non hanno nulla in comune ;) ), il cinema, dal quale spesso traggo ispirazione, mi piace cucinare e ovviamente amo il cucito.

Ho cominciato a cucire dopo la nascita di mia figlia Violette ed è presto diventata la mia passione. Ho avuto l’opportunità di entrare in una scuola per stilisti/modellisti e mi sono diplomata.

Modello blusa Margot

✄ Come hai cominciato République du Chiffon?

Ho cominciato République du Chiffon nel 2010, era un blog di moda e cucito. Dopo il mio diploma, volevo spostare il blog nella direzione del design e modellismo per il cucito a casa, cercando di creare modelli alla moda, per sarte moderne. Poiché l’offerta è ancora scarsa in Francia, spero di trovare un mio spazio.

Modello vestito Penelope

✄ Ci puoi dire qualcosa in più sul tuo libro (“Un Eté Couture” edito da Tutti Frutti) e sui tuoi cartamodelli scaricabili?

Quello che cerco di fare con i miei modelli, sia nel libro che per quelli da scaricare, è di offrire stili moderni che rendano il cucito democratico, rendendo le cose “difficili” abbordabili per tutte. La mia speranza è che i modelli creati a casa siano tanto trendy e di qualità quanto quelli offerti al giorno d’oggi dai designer.

Modello cappotto Gérard

✄ Quali sono le tue fonti d’ispirazione? Hai dei designer preferiti o delle icone di stile?

L’ispirazione la trovo dappertutto, per strada, nei giornali, nei film, da illustratori, ecc. Sono una grande fan dello streetstyle  (Yvan RodicSartorialist ecc.) e passo molto tempo a leggere blog di moda (Le Blog de BettyPunky BLe blog de Pauline e tanti tanti altri). Per quanto riguarda le “icone di stile”, non ne ho di vere e proprie, non sono mai stata una grande fan. Preferisco anonimi che hanno stile, ma se devo fare un nome, al momento sarebbe decisamente Alexa Chung o Kate Bosworth.

Modello Viviane - vestito e blusa
Tutte le immagini di questo post prese da qui

✄ Cosa vedi nel futuro del tuo marchio?

Vorrei far diventare RDC una vera marca di cartamodelli. Ho deciso di lasciare il mio lavoro e dedicarmi completamente al marchio, perciò, a cominciare dall’anno prossimo e se tutto va bene, ci sarà una collezione di cartamodelli cartacei (10 per ogni stagione) e continuerò ad offrire modelli scaricabili a prezzi contenuti in modo che tutti possano cucire République du Chiffon. Spero vi piacerà.



Grazie, Géraldine, ti auguro tutto il meglio!

Io tornerò presto con la mia versione di uno dei suoi modelli… Siete curiosi?

30 comments:

  1. Oooh, I can't wait to see what you made with her pattern! I love Geraldine's blog and very much admire her style-- thanks for sharing the interview!

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  2. Great to find out more about Geraldine, thanks for the interview. I love her style!

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  3. I didn't click that the same lady was behind RDC and the Ete Coutere book. I love her designs and hope to sew one soon, and can't wait to see yours!

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  4. J'adore son blog que je suis depuis longtemps !
    Ces patrons sont vraiment hyper féminins, et terriblement dans la tendance du moment !
    Je craque complètement pour son pantalon boyish Gilbert ; et les modèles de son livre (même s'ils taillent trop petit pour mon 44-46 too bad :( )
    Je suis très impatience de voir le modèle que tu as réalisé !

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  5. I've just discovered RDC a few weeks ago and totally love Geraldine's patterns. I plan to buy soon her beautiful book "Un été couture"... Can't wait to see which pattern you sewed! By the way, I just wanted to say that I follow your blog since a while and really love your style and creations!

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  6. What a great interview! I found out about the Gerard pattern from Ginger Makes, and I am very exited to attempt to make it up. I would love it RDC did printed patterns, in English too!

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  7. Love them! I bought Gerard Coat and Gilbert pants...now I just need a translator....

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  8. Love her makes, need to learn the language and we'll be right ;)

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  9. I love these patterns!Have my eye on the Gerard Coat for a while now!

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  10. If you have problems with a particular passage, ask away!

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  11. Thank you so much, that's so sweet!

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  12. Silvia - Sewing PrincessDecember 5, 2013 at 11:59 AM

    Anna, why do you do this to me!!! I love the shirt! Thanks for the interview!

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  13. I bought the Gerard coat. I like her design and feel there are lots of space for new companies...

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  14. Ohh I'm going to ask too if that's ok

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  15. So nice! Your are wonderfull!

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  16. Oh i Love it! You guys did a perfect job. The fabric is amazing and the silhouette is great (I've been totally won over to these looser styles lately). MY heart is bursting with international sewing blogger love.

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  17. I absolutely love your dress (that yoke is fantastic)! And thank you for sending my pattern to Julie, she did an amazing job too (well, you too as the fabric you selected is just so sweet).

    How fun that both of you chose silhouettes very similar with the drop waist and loose fit? Haha, love that!

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  18. Waow, Julie made a really good choice! Your dress is beautiful. I love the association bird print + black yoke : I agree with you when you think that a colored yoke would have been too much in this case.

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  19. Such a pretty dress I agree the yoke is gorgeous the details is amazing. I also like the skirt part how it gathered at the bottom. The style suits you beautifully. Well done.

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  20. SO gorgeous. One of the best Sew Bossy creations I've seen!

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  21. This dress is perfect!! I love that print and the silhouette, and the yoke! Oh my goodness. It's gorgeous.

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  22. Great dress! I spotted the pattern on the République du Chiffon website after your interview the other day and thought it looked good then, and I like it even better now!

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  23. I LOVE the print on your main fabric. Animal prints like that are my favourite. I wish I was brave enough to join in the Sew Bossy!

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  24. So So divine. You girls were the perfect match for Sew Bossy. I cannot get over the vintage fabric you chose for Julie either.

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  25. This pattern (and the dress you made from it) are really super cute!

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  26. Beatiful dress - I love this pattern label

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  27. Not a silhouette I would normally chose, but I love this on you...looks very modern and cool!

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  28. This is so cute on you! I love it! It's such a fun and sweet style.

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  29. This is adorable, I have covetous feelings.

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  30. This is so pretty. How funny that you and Julie sent each other such similar patterns! There must be something in the air. When the Sew Bossy initiative works well, it *really* works well :)

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