September 21, 2018

Made by Sarenza x Elise Chalmin

I'm going to tell you about the adventure of Made by Sarenza x Elise Chalmin.
The beginnings, the excitement, the meeting and the different stages of this crazy project.

It all started on December 6, 2017 at 3:19 p.m.:
"Hello Elise, we would like to propose a collaboration with Sarenza for winter 2018. Would you be interested? If so, let's meet. We love your world. Have a nice day. Virginie"

I remember it perfectly, it was cold, it was 4 days after my birthday and my "Pattern Yourself" party, we were in the middle of installing our popup store "le 113"! How exciting! Of course I want to meet you :)

Here we go, see you on December 19, 2017 at 10 a.m. at Sarenza!

A little stressed but very excited about what we have to say to each other.
Thinking back now, I don't even remember who I met that day. Being lost in a structure that you don't know, not knowing how these people work or what their expectations are of me. Should I be myself, this messy and funny young girl? Should I show the most professional and least crazy side of me?

Ultimately, staying true to yourself always pays off.
The adventure has begun, I have to start drawing.
At the second meeting we agree on different models, I like shoes so much that I would like to be able to choose everything, but you have to know how to stay reasonable. We start with 4 different models.

I hesitated a lot about the loafers, but I finally chose those whose heel I could cover and create a real identity in the collection.

And the story goes that these are also the first shoes I bought at Sarenza, which I'm crazy about, a glittery version for wild evenings.

I first draw about ten prints, everyone falls for the same one, an ultra geometric version in shades of green, navy and gray! Love at first sight!

Quite a few steps followed, we chose to make a second print so that the collection would have more depth and could appeal to as many people as possible.

We chose to work on burgundy, did several tests on velvet. Bingo, let's go!

Everything happened very quickly: receiving the prototypes, setting up the communication plan, filming our video, shooting!
3 days before my move and 4 days before my departure for Hong Kong to conquer Asia! What a month of April...

Everything is ready, when is it coming out? I can't wait, I can't wait!
I thought about it all summer, hoping that the collection would please, that we would get good feedback, that it would be a success and today I think we're there!
So many press releases, so many interview requests, so many congratulations, I am so proud.

So proud to be where I am today and to achieve it day after day. My dream of having a job that I am passionate about is coming true, the dream of finally proving that I can be worth it and that I can be trusted, is right there in front of my eyes.

All this work to be here today and even further tomorrow.
Many missed evenings with all my independent friends, realizations and constant stress but what pride nonetheless!
I don't know where I'll be in 10 years, but I'm already so happy to be here.
The Sarenza team gave me wings this year, allowed me to flourish, to live my dreams and that is no small thing.

As I already wrote in my newsletter, I thank from the bottom of my heart Léa from Sarenza, who knew how to listen to my desires, my fears, even my personal life at times. A human and lively contact. I met a team super understanding with my madness, and very attentive. I thank Coline who allowed us to shoot our summer 2019 lookbook in their studio.
I thank Arthur who delicately managed to put this collection on video, and my laughs!
I thank Julie for her artistic direction on the entire image of the collaboration.
I thank Caroline for her kindness, Alice, Solène and Louise for the shots, and all the others for everything and everything again.

Written by Elise Chalmin

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