Interviews
29 September 2020
You can never see her face and yet, more than 230k people follow her posts on instagram on the @meleponym account. Mélanie is the creator of the french brand eponym creation, and it is with her community that she shares her looks almost every day. Rather minimalist but with a real sense of style, her looks have become her trademark, composed of black and white skilfully orchestrated around lace and leather. A “comfort look”, as she says! Based in reims, she has been at the helm of all positions since the start of her brand in 2013: drawings, sketches, supplier and manufacturer management, website etc. Interview of a real girl boss!
When I was little I used to customize clothes. I turned pants into skirts … After that, having my own brand has never been a part of my dreams, I have to admit that the potential superficial side of the industry scared me. I was driven more spontaneously to studies in Art history.
Well, I did … I started out studying Art history, but quite quickly, a bit by chance, I went to Lille. I finally did Esmod (Editor’s note: fashion school) there. But it was more my first professional experiences that put me on the path …
During my studies, I have always worked. I was a photographer for a newspaper called “Lille la nuit” and above all, I’ve been a stylist assistant for one year. Then I worked as a store manager in Paris. It was at that period that I realized that people don’t want luxury that is out of reach, but something that accompagny them in their everyday lives. What can make us dream does not dress us in reality! I loved being a salesperson not because I wanted to sell but because I was having fun putting together looks, and I liked it very much!
I never told myself that I would create my ready-to-wear brand because I thought the market was already overloaded. When a friend of mine got married, I realized that the offer was really small, very commercial. It amused me to design wedding dresses, I got a taste for it. Along with that, I launched my Instagram account. It was nothing at all initially, I just enjoyed posting my looks every day. As time went by, my community grew and asked me why I was not launching my ready-to-wear brand. The idea took shape, and I gave it a go. I even stopped the wedding dresses. I love it but it was too time-consuming…
It’s a ready-to-wear brand, but I wouldn’t be able to define its style… in fact, I really wanted to create a fashion alternative for everyday women, who are active, with children. Maybe that’s its style …
It’s true that most of the time I wear what I design, but not everything. For example, I don’t like skirts at all and yet I know a lot of women like them, so I design some, a little bit! (laughs) I really try to address everyone and dress a woman who’s going to be comfortable, both going to work and going out. I want to create what I call a “comfort look”.
Despite what everyone says, it’s very easy to work with artisans. I’m never afraid to try new things, they always find a way to adapt. For example, our knitter just made us tie-dye, which he had never done before. The same way he learned to use merino wool when he had never worked with anything other than cashmere.
It’s always a feeling. And I could say that anything or everything inspires me. It could be a girl in the street, a visual, an ad, or a painting! But I only work visually and with “flashes”, I wouldn’t be able to make clothes that answer to a given problem.
I only listen to dead people, or almost (laughs)! In any case, I always work with a musical background. It’s Patti Smith, Janis Joplin, or Bob Dylan who punctuate my days …
I would advise you to wear an oversized blouse, skinny jeans, and pointy suede boots. Here you are ready for all situations!
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