Tell us about your career.
After spending a few years at Michelin, in particular in Hong Kong, I joined Deveaux as an Area Manager, first for Italy and then Germany. After getting to know Germany like the back of my hand, I realised I liked business development and product management. I became the Product Manager for block color, jacquard, and printed fabrics. Little by little, Frédérique and I are starting to lead the company.

What are Maison Deveaux’s values?
Family values first, daring to dare, respect for people and the environment, passing on passion, and weaving close-knit and lasting relationships.

“Fashion with a soul”… Can you explain Deveaux’s vision?
We’re putting some soul back into our fashion world. It’s been upset by the arrival of ultra-fast fashion.

In the midst of new environmental and industrial issues, what are the main challenges that Maison Devaux must face in the future?
We must know how to adapt to changes in consumer behavior, and therefore to our clients. At the same time, we need to successfully manage our environmental transition, which will require the Group to invest heavily.

Can you tell us an anecdote about your role or your career?
I’m trilingual – English, French and German (never having learned Spanish or Italian) – and when I started working for Deveaux my first role was in Italy! Nothing is impossible when you have people’s trust.

And finally, a saying, a motto, a quote?
We draw inspiration from the past to better live in the present and to prepare the future.

When did you join Maison Deveaux, and in what context?
I joined in January 2011, after having worked as an international volunteer in Latin America. It was pure chance that I arrived here, as I’d never worked in the textiles industry. I was seduced by the idea of continuing to travel and manage a specific sales area “like a small company”. I came into my own in this role. I loved that I could continue discovering the world while responding to the challenges clients gave me, so that our teams progressed together. I was lucky in that my career developed thanks to new roles and responsibilities every five years. Time went by fast and I’ve felt totally engaged throughout. It’s been 14 years since I’ve been here, and I have another new role and a new way to serve the Group.

Tell us about the trio that you and Frédérique and Thibaud Von Tschammer form?
Ever since I’ve been with Devaux, things relationally speaking have been easy. I have felt comfortable and natural in my roles, and with Frédérique and Thibaud we understand each other intuitively and work together smoothly. Today, we’re a very balanced trio. Each us of has our strengths which provide the natural outline of each of our roles. Thanks to their trust, we’re learning together how to manage a successful company. At my level, I’m able to bring a bit of panache and a less stressful vision.

How do you balance being at head office with frequent international travel?
Organizing myself based on different needs is quite easy. Having been out on the ground every week during several years, I’ve inherited excellent knowledge and great relationships with our clients, and this gives me a fair amount of flexibility.

How do you see your role at Maison Deveaux changing in the coming years?
I hope that success will be plentiful. I imagine, too, that there will be lots of surprises and challenges that I will try to handle in a modern way and with flair!

Describe Maison Deveaux in three words?
Bold, human, daring.

“Fashion with a soul”… Tell us about Deveaux’s vision?

I think that soul is still what makes it possible for people to differentiate themselves from everything that is false and artificial. Even if newer generations only ever seem to talk about artificial intelligence, soul is still vital. Only people are capable of dreaming, feeling, and therefore moving forward, imagining new products that are different from yesterday’s… I’m convinced that our group has a role to play and a beautiful industrial future ahead of us, even if the textile world has been experiencing a fair amount of upset thanks to fast fashion. At Deveaux, we dream and we will always act for more genuine fashion, with a soul…

And finally, a saying, a motto, a quote?
“There is no such thing as chance, only meetings.” – Paul Eluard

When did you join Maison Deveaux, and in what role?
I started as an Export Manager in October 2006.

Tell us about your daily work?
I talk to my team and the style department on a daily basis to stay up to date about new trends and to work on products for my market. I search out what is new in our collections that my clients might find interesting or useful. I also spend time preparing my sales meetings and the accompanying travel. And I make sure to take care of and motivate my team of agents. What I like best about this role is that I’m always coming into contact with different cultures, which makes each day unique.

How do you adapt your sales approach depending on the export markets you work with?
Each country and client is different, so my approach is different and singular for each. It adds to the variety of what I do. Timescales, expectations, and needs change greatly from one market to another. It’s essential to understand what is most important to each client. As a result, we adapt our sales approach. We work differently with England compared to Greece, for example.

Is there a project or a collaboration that you’re particularly proud of since you’ve been working at Maison Deveaux?
I’m really proud to be growing sales in Italy, a truly first-class market with promising potential for Deveaux. My objective is to help them discover Deveaux collections, made in France and entirely legitimate internationally, and to make them want to work with us.

Describe Maison Deveaux in three words?
Family heritage, creativity, and kindness.

The fashion and textile sector is constantly changing… How do you see your own role changing?
We’ll never give people up. Emotions are a natural part of touching fabric, something that virtual reality can never replace. Even if consumer habits change, so that we have to constantly adapt, our relationships with our clients are the reason behind what we do.

And finally, a saying, a motto, a quote?
Keep calm and carry on.

When did you join Maison Deveaux and in what role?
In October 2021, as an export sales assistant.

Tell us about your daily work and how you divide your time between French and Export clients?
I help our clients in the Spanish, Greek, and Belgian markets from the moment they place an order until their fabric has been delivered. My daily work is quite varied. Even if what I do for clients is the same everywhere, they all have different problems that need attention.

Is there a project that you’re particularly proud of since you’ve been working at Maison Deveaux?
I was hired to work mainly for Spain. I already spoke French and English, so I’ve had to learn Spanish by taking classes since I started here. I’m pleased to now speak all three languages.

Describe Maison Deveaux in three words?
French expertise, longevity, diversity.

The fashion and textile sector is constantly changing… How do you see your own role changing?
The changes have made us manufacture in an increasingly environmental manner. We need to do all we can to become more methodical in terms of traceability, and continue to be completely transparent with our clients.

And finally, a saying, a motto, a quote?
Keep smiling and be positive to always move forward.

When did you join Maison Deveaux and in what role?
I started here in late 2021 as a sales assistant for France.

Tell us about your daily work and how you divide your time between French and Export clients?
I don’t really put them into two distinct categories. I always start by checking my email to see if there are any emergencies to deal with, and then I look at orders that need to be shipped, etc. I’m always juggling my emails and the general monitoring I do with our plants.

Is there a project that you’re particularly proud of since you’ve been working at Maison Deveaux?
I’m lucky in that I’ve been able to take on more responsibilities since I started with the company. With Deveaux, I’m taking German classes so that I will be able to take care of Germany in the near future.

Describe Maison Deveaux in three words?
Family, challenge, teamwork.

The fashion and textile sector is constantly changing… How do you see your own role changing?
I haven’t been working in the textile sector for very long, but I’ve already seen my own job change. I think we’ll produce less but at a higher quality, and with more and more respect for the environment. Also, our client relationships and the attention we give to each are going to be increasingly important.

And finally, a saying, a motto, a quote?
“To be is worth more than to have.” – Marie Tsvetaeva

When did you join Maison Deveaux and in what context?
I was working for a collaborative platform for the textile industry in 2002, when Deveaux contacted me after I sent in an unsolicited application. It was an excellent opportunity for me to join this respected Maison de création.

Tell us about your daily work in the style department?
I have a variety of responsibilities in the style department, both creative and technical. My main role is to create textile designs for clothing by absorbing trends and drawing on client expectations and market analyses. For Deveaux collections, I help with developing seasonal themes, and creating and coloring prints to make them innovative and desirable.
I also provide support throughout all steps during fabrication, from the start of printing to checking samples printed on the different fabrics that have been chosen.

Is there one or more fabric collections that you’re particularly proud of?
What really motivates me about being part of the Deveaux team is the diversity of themes we work with and the wide variety of end uses. Even if each collection is always like a new adventure, some are more representative of my view of fashion and elegance. I like to create around the international woman who is chic and sophisticated, and for the man who is urban and timeless.

Fashion is an “inspirational” sector, highly creative and drawing on multiple cultural references. What are your own sources of inspiration and references?
I find lots of creative energy in fashion shows, where you see a snapshot of the desires of the moment and new color associations. And obviously, creativity’s main allies are trend books, design studios deeply in touch with fashion, our own personal research, directions that our clients take, unending archives…

What qualities does a stylist need? What characterizes a stylist?
You can always look at job descriptions and find lots of information on the internet. At work, we’re all curious, we each have our own artistic style and graphic design skills. It’s important to enjoy discussion and challenges, and be open and organized. We’re also highly demanding so that we meet our clients’ requirements.

Describe Maison Deveaux in three words?
Heritage, vision, French.

The fashion and textile sector is constantly changing… How do you see your own role changing?
There have already been so many changes in how I work since I’ve been at Maison Deveaux, such as inkjet printing and computer design programs. I constantly monitor the metaverse, AI and any technological revolution that can inspire our imagination and help us create unique prints that seduce our clients.

And finally, a saying, a motto, a quote?
Positive attitude!