"I love hats!

Even if it’s not the easiest accessory to wear at all times, there’s a feeling of empowerment
while wearing it. I spend most of my time in working clothes that are full of
holes, paint and stains, contrary to that I enjoy dressing up, so when I’m
actually wearing a hat it’s definitely a great accessory."

In my everyday life there is great passion for old furniture. The assembling techniques that were of the time were all made without as many tools as we use today and with great precision. It is fascinating. I think the elders had it all figured out, they could do so much with so little compared to now. Nothing was wasted. I try to adapt history to my own way of living and working. As I care a lot about the environment I work with up-cycling of old and broken furniture. There is a story behind the wood of a rustic table from the 70s. Who sat there, what did they talk about, what music did they listen to, where they happy? Sad? Did they end the night with dancing, or were they alone? We will never know what happened to them, but if I can re-build that wooden table, in that way their lives will continue in our lifetime and in the future. That’s what I liked about your hats, they have something retro nostalgic about them, and their quality is made to last for future generations.
They too will have a story to tell.

I chose materials that will last a life time. Wood, metal, resin and fabric are probably the materials that I mostly work in. They match well together; some of them reduce waste, for example Resin can be used to take care of old surfboards that would otherwise be thrown away. When I up-cycle it gives me an opportunity to express myself artistically while finding an intellectual solution in how to make an object useful. I would create a lamp from parts of an old engine and add wood, or dream catchers from broken surf leashes, a bar out of scrap wood and old doors that I had found at some random place.

Modern retro is always with me. My dad is a big vinyl collector and used to have an old chevy from the 50’s, my mom loved the flea market, she found tools to use or transform, that’s where it all started. When I was traveling in South America people created pure gems from
scraps, so I went back to France and took everything that I had learnt and created my own workshop where I restored or transformed old broken things.

The 70’s is a very special period to me. I think it was an era of great awareness and exceptional creativity. Freedom, music, art, brave designs; it was also a moment of awakening, we realized how our consumption impacted the planet. Whenever I drive my van, I travel back in time. A 45 year old Peugeot J7 than runs partly on frying oil. These were machines that were built to last, pure simple mechanic that still is reliable. Maybe I idealize, but it seems it was an era of possibilities. It was the birth of pioneers in surfing. They explored the world, followed the summer around the globe in
search for the perfect wave.

I grew up in a little village, in a house between the forest and fields. As a kid I spent most of my time outside building little cabins, fishing and running in the wild. I’ve always had  a strong connection to animals. I treasure being still and observing them. The house was close to the sea so we played on the beach, searched for crabs and seashells. We were taught about the strong force of the nature, how to play with it, not against it.

 Growing up next to Biarritz has had a major impact on my personality, which I’m deeply grateful for. The ocean, mountains, nature, small cities, Spain just around the corner... Our childhood was a bit like a time machine compared to other major cities. It was freedom. After traveling and studying elsewhere my heart decided to return to Biarritz, I had to go away to realise the city’s values and how lucky we were to have grown up there.

“A hat
brings out hidden parts of a person. It might be a little bit uncomfortable at first but after daring the first necessary steps to wear it, the feeling of boldness
that it creates is immeasurable. It bears an international expression that
speaks for itself: chic, personal and confident."  

“My personal style? I like to think “A little bad taste is good for everyone”, and by that, I mean that everything doesn’t have to match perfectly, but rather keep it personal. I’m hopeless at following trends, I prefer to look elegant, natural, and dress in a lot of vintage. With a hat on, I would go for an easy look with a distressed pair of jeans, a t-shirt, and a coat; or during the night, leather pants with a chiffon blouse. I would either match the coat or the blouse with the same color as the hat to create harmony."

“To stay creative, I try to always be curious. To me, perfect things are boring. I want to challenge the status quo by using the only resources I have, which does not necessarily have to be a lot, to give the imagination a thrill. Many attires can be redone or re-used, for example, tie a sparkly belt to an old boring coat and give it a new life. Or use any other quirky accessory to give your wardrobe a facelift. I’m very stimulated by antiques and vintage pieces. My guilty pleasure is to browse online objects from the Nordic auction house Bukowskis instead of Instagram. I think I am very driven by finding something that is unique about every piece or person that I encounter. It’s not always easy to go your own way, but when you finally do, that is where the magic happens."