MaisonCléo's Marie Dewet on Dressing Sustainably
Born and raised in France, Marie is the founder of upcycling brand MaisonCléo. An early pioneer of second-hand, she has strong beliefs when it comes to fashion: "There's no need to buy new clothes because the world is already filled with clothes. The most important thing is to fight for people that are exploited every day by fast fashion." Today she shares some of her closet secrets...
I started MaisonCléo firstly for myself...
...because I couldn't find any handmade-to-order brands in France, made with surplus fabrics, or they were too expensive. I was looking for pieces made in a more artisanal way than pieces made in factories, so I decided to buy deadstock fabrics and asked my mother to make my clothes. Then people started to become interested in buying the pieces she was making for me - that's how it all started!
I find inspiration every day...
...in my daily life. In restaurants, on the street, on the train. I also find a lot of inspiration watching old movies, and delving into my grandmother's closet. At the beginning I was more inspired by the '70s, and today it's more about the '90s and '00s as these decades represent my childhood. It's the kind of good nostalgia that we all need now.
The one piece that got away...
...is actually several vintage '90s Chanel bags that I had on my wishlist. I still managed to score a unique one from 1991 (my birth year). One of my favorites is the "chocolate bar" style - I have one in pink printed denim, but I'd love to get it in a classic black leather too. I'm always looking for pieces from my favorite Chanel collection: SS/94, which was all about colorful dream pieces.
The best style advice I ever received was…
...to never give style advice because people know I only dress for myself and don't care if it doesn't please others! The only style advice I’d give a stranger is to dress as you want and dare to wear anything you'd like to. The most important thing is that you feel good in your outfit and that it gives you energy for the day.