INTERVIEW WITH CHARLOTTE ELISA

 1. You founded La Jaquette in 2020, a year of great change and a lot of uncertainty, not only in the world at large, but also in the fashion world. Was there anything last year that inspired your decision to create your new brand or was it a long time coming?

I was a demanding but often disappointed customer when I bought my jackets, because neither the quality, nor the fabrics, nor the prices, nor the colors were what I wanted. So I had been carrying the idea of La Jaquette for years and, even though 2020 was not an ideal year to launch a new fashion brand, I didn't want to wait anymore - as they say "no risk, no magic".

2. Was there any particular knowledge from your years of working in the fashion world that you drew on when creating La Jaquette, or any particular inspirations in terms of designers or fashion houses that you liked?

I worked in fashion for 10 years for brands like Saint Laurent, Balmain and Gaspard Yurkievich. What I admired most was the exceptional quality of the clothes, the perfect details, the beauty of it all, but what disappointed me was the high prices. So I dreamed of creating a brand with superior quality, perfect details and affordable prices.

3. When people think of Parisian style, they often think of muted tones, but you offer great jackets in a wide range of colors, including a beautiful bright fuchsia and also in red (shade - "Rouge Amour"). Is it because of a personal love for bright colors, are they present in your own wardrobe?

Personally, I love colors and I think that colors can always cheer us up, they can also add a final chic touch to any look. As I experienced myself, it wasn't so easy to find bright colors in Paris, I was sure there were other people like me looking for great colors to add to their wardrobe.

4. It seems like the list of positives for La Jaquette is endless - not only do you opt for local and French manufacturing for all your jackets, but there is a 1 euro donation to animal protection in France with every order and you are also a "responsible" fashion brand. What does this mean and what is your brand philosophy?

Working in the fashion world, I learned some of its secrets, and that's why I wanted to be transparent with my customers, support local and sustainable production, support the local economy and local jobs, reduce environmental impact, and maintain fair prices. I also wanted to support the concept of slow fashion: creating timeless quality pieces that can live a long time.

5. Finally, what does the future hold for La Jaquette?

The future of La Jaquette is to continue to grow, to develop and to gain visibility. The objective is to be present internationally while continuing to produce high quality jackets, Made in France, with new colors, and always at a fair price. 

Follow Charlotte on Instagram @char__elisa.