What are your thoughts about the significance of this season given so many major designer debuts?
This season feels momentous, reinforcing Paris as the capital of fashion and the ultimate stage for debuts. With so many new creative directors, it is a seismic event – the Big Bang before the expansion. But like any eruption, the spectacle is only the beginning. Once the ashes settle, the real test will be which houses can sustain momentum and turn excitement into lasting desirability.
What are the main elements that make your work unique?
What makes my work unique is the way I connect with people and help bring a vision to life. The designer’s idea is the heartbeat; my role is to be the amplifier – to make that vision visible, ensure it resonates with our industry’s key stakeholders, and ultimately touches clients.
What aspect of your work excites and stimulates you the most?
What excites me most is seeing the work come to life in the real world: a magazine cover, a campaign plastered on billboards, a celebrity wearing a design on the red carpet – those moments where creativity meets reality are what I find most stimulating.
Fashion can often be a lab for ideas. How might fashion shows also be a lab for your own ideas?
First and foremost, I’m at the service of the creative director. My role is to understand their vision and universe, and then bring ideas that enhance it. It’s in that exchange that we can push concepts further.
What is something that you believe will change over the course of the year?
I believe this year will push brands to speak more directly and with more authenticity to their clients. The economic context and the need for change has led to the unprecedented musical chairs we’re witnessing. To succeed, brands will need to define a strong point of view – and stick to it, regardless of the surrounding noise.
What do you enjoy most about Paris Fashion Week?
What I enjoy most about Paris Fashion Week is that it truly feels like the centre of the world. The energy is unmatched, and in Paris, fashion is treated as a serious, respected industry; you feel its weight and importance everywhere. And on a personal note, I also love seeing my editor friends who travel here.
Do trends still matter?
It’s no longer about trends. Trends are often dictated by marketing and a handful of voices deciding what’s in good taste. What matters is authenticity. Brands need to know exactly who they’re speaking to, and accept that they don’t have to speak to everyone. The strength lies in having a clear point of view and integrity.
Tell us something surprising about how you got to where you are today?
I don’t know if it’s surprising, but I got here through hard work, dedication, integrity – and by treating people with respect. My job also relies on soft skills you don’t learn at school: listening, empathy, and the ability to connect.
In what ways might you hope to have an impact on fashion this year?
I don’t aim to have an impact on fashion myself; my role is to help the brands I work with create that impact. I’m at their service, bringing my experience and expertise to amplify their vision and make sure it resonates.
Can you share a mantra that speaks to this moment in time?
My mantra is: “We’re not saving lives.” It’s a way to keep perspective: stay calm, avoid the drama, and never forget to treat people with respect.
This interview has been lightly edited.
