ABOUT MY PRODUCTS AND ETHICS

 

I am a French designer based in London working with textile especially Toile de Jouy. My inspiration comes from the French Revolution, Punk, and everything hand-made and recycled. For more information about private commissions, please drop me a line with your brief. I have made cushions for weddings, jubilees, special celebrations and homages.

After spending years between Paris and London, working in international advertising, publishing punk fanzines, graduating in interior design and fashion, Vive la République is an attempt to fuse the sublime of the Ancien Régime with the spontaneity of revolutions into your salon.

MY PRODUCTS

I take pride and care in the making of my products. They are hand-made and special commissions will take 10 days between payment and delivery.

The rosettes are made from Liberty fabrics or dupion, embellished with ribbons and buttons, they are hand-stitched on the cushions. The choice of fabrics and ribbons which make up each rosette are unique to every one of them. Therefore when you receive the finished product you'll have a one-off.

I have introduced nanotechnology in the making of my cushions. I use textile sealant on my products to make them water and stain resistant. It's an environmentally friendly process which doesn't affect the look or feel of the fabric - and makes them last longer.

 

ETHICS

Ethics are an important part of my set-up. In fact it constitutes the main basis on which I do business. By ethics I mean my means of production in relation to the environment, and my political engagement vis-à-vis the fashion industry.

I devised an environment policy in partnership with Newham College and their Discovery Lab.

Business

The principle of Vive la République is French design hand-made in England using heritage textiles. I consider that ethical practices and a sound environmental policy are at the core of my brand.

My on-going commitment

I am committed to look at my supplies and methods of production as well as assess new technologies i.e. energy saving devices on a regular basis. I am also committed to political changes regarding these issues.

Impact on business

Vive la République pledge to make these policies the hallmark of the business:

• Ensuring that my supplies are locally sourced to minimize transport, support the local economy, ethical employment and production practices. Use of recycled material i.e. off cut, vintage material and found objects. Use of recycled packaging and labelling. Minimizing the use of material needing washing and dry-cleaning with harsh chemicals: this is made possible partly by the application of textile sealants on my products. I privilege quality over quantity.
• Implementing good working practices such as recycling paper, printing on two sides, re-using envelopes, using energy saving light bulbs, keeping the heating at a minimal temperature, and limit waste in a general way. Saving the environment saves money.
• Participating in campaigns against waste and exploitation at all levels of the industry. I aim at highlighting and help stopping immoral practices.

Communication

Ethics and the environment are the raison d’être of Vive la République. Not only these polices are communicated on-line, but they are an integral part of my beliefs and therefore are present at all levels of our communication down to the labelling of my products.