It’s hard not to feel guilty about buying into fast fashion when environmental and social consciousness is at an all-time high. Unsurprisingly, buying into the buy-throw-buy cycle of fast fashion is now (rightfully) unfashionable. Luckily for us, clothing can still be fun without being trendy, cheap and disposable. Here, we have curated six indie French brands for you to discover – all with sustainable ethics and a penchant for either pre-loved or one-of-a-kind handmade pieces.
Started in 2017, Maison Cleo is an indie label run by Nathalie and Marie, a mother-and-daughter team based in the north of France.Using deadstock silks, cotton and wool, usually with unique textures and prints, the duo designs dresses, blouses and skirts, which are then handmade by mum Cleo, a qualified seamstress. Their signature: Loose, puff-sleeved blouses with ribbon-tied closures, some of which have already been picked up by influencers such as Man Repeller’s Leandra Medine and model Emily Ratajkowski.
Image : Instagram (@maisoncleo)
The easiest way to dress like Parisian model/actress/entrepreneur Jeanne Damas is to shop where she shops — and Jeanne has done most of the legwork for us by launching her label, Rouje. Her insouciant French girl aesthetic comes through in all of Rouje’s offerings. Think breezy floral blouses, slinky silk slips, and vintage-inspired ruffle-hem cardigans — the kind of clothing you may have to scour vintage stores in Paris for, now accessible to anyone with an Internet connection. Earlier this year, Jeanne also launched her own line of makeup on Rouje. Known for her signature red lips, you can now shop Rouje’s Le Rouje de Paris lip collection for a range of lipsticks and lip palettes in Jeanne-curated shades.
Image : Instagram (@rouje)
Launched just last year by influencer AnneLaure Mais (@adenorah), Musier Paris’ muses are the quintessential French Girls, such as Mais’ fellow French influencer Camille Jansen, and French-Algerian designer Anissa Kermiche, among many others. Musier Paris drops a new collection every two months, with its apparel made mainly of natural fibres such as silk, viscose and cotton that are sourced from European mills. All designs are manufactured in Paris. Reflecting the enviable styles of its founder and muses, Musier Paris’ recent collections feature plenty of retro-but-on-trend wardrobe essentials such as summery gingham dresses, casual cardigans, and covetable ’90s-style kitten-heeled sandals and mules.
Image: Musier Paris
The Paris-based Imparfaite is a little different from the other labels on this list: nothing new is for sale here — every piece is preloved, and sourced from thrift stores and consignment stores across France. Best friends Ariane de Bechade and Camille Gabbi started Imparfaite in 2017 to both provide an alternative to fast fashion, and to make vintage accessible to everyone. The Imparfaite team carefully selects its stock to ensure that all are in great condition, and launches a new collection of curated vintage clothing and accessories every month. Prices are usually below 100 euros (with the exception of selected pieces from designer labels).
Image : Instagram (@imparfaiteparis)
After Paris-based Canadian designer Tara Jarmon sold her eponymous label to AMS industries in September 2016, she launched a new online-only brand, Mirae, with her daughter Camille in April last year. A brand committed to sustainability, Mirae selects suppliers with green manufacturing practices (such as using recycled water and renewable energy), produces designs in small quantities of 30 to 100 pieces, and uses ethically manufactured natural fabrics or deadstock fabrics. The result: accessible Parisian chic, with a minimal environmental cost.
Image : Instagram (@miraeparis)