nbsp;Loulwa Miyamatsu Renouard de Valliere. created her first capsule collection, “An Everlasting Summer”, influenced largely by nostalgia. Having grown up visiting the sincere French countryside, we see this reflected through her design work. Loulwa designs with memories in mind, as she hopes people feel personally connected to her through her beautiful work. Her collection will take you on a trip down memory lane to easier, more peaceful times. Read on the find out more about the Global Young Talent as seen in the April issue of Harper’s Bazaar UK.
1: It is clear that you are very fond of the environment in which you grew up in – the French countryside, how was it transitioning from a relaxing countryside environment to the busyness of the Parisian city life to study?
Actually I grew up in Monaco, but I have been spending all my holidays in the countryside, which is why I have such a strong attachment to this place. I would not defined moving to Paris as a transition. Since my country house is close to it, I got to experience both environments from a young age and even more since I have been studying in Paris. It offered me on the one hand the tranquility of nature and on the other hand the craziness of the city, which gave me a great balance and allowed me to realise which environment truly inspires me.
"It offered me on the one hand the tranquility of nature and on the other hand the craziness of the city."
2. Your collection tells a unique story, with each of your pieces having their own story behind them: from the wallpaper in your bedroom becoming a print, to the memories of your mother cooking vegetables from the garden becoming tea towels and apron dresses. What would you like a consumer to feel when looking and learning about your collection?
Fashion is a language. Fashion can convey emotions and stories. Indeed, each of my pieces is a reflection of one of my memories, and I want people to understand this, that I do not only express “my creativity” but my personal story that I recall through the use of my five senses and my nostalgia. I want people who share similar memories to feel connected to my collection, and those who do not have this approach to this environment, to immerse themselves in it through my collection. I think this is the beauty of communication and creativity, the beauty of sharing a story. A collection is like a novel that you dive into.
3. You focus your collection on nostalgia and the importance of personal memories. What would you say is your favourite piece from your collection and what memory does this trigger for you?
This is a difficult question considering that each piece represents something that touches me. My favourite pieces would maybe be the romantic blouses with the Japanese dyeing technique, Shibori, handmade by my mother. The idea behind these pieces was to tie together that Victorian spirit, time during which the house was build, with the Shibori dyes specific to my culture. In fact, these dyes were inspired by drawings I would do with chalks on a corner of the terrace. It was a real hobby my sister and I shared and these are very special memories for me because it was an escape into a universe made just with my chalks and one of the moments that truly sparked my creativity .
"Very special memories for me because it was an escape into a universe made just with my chalks and one of the moments that truly sparked my creativity."
4. You have had so many exciting opportunities come at you at such a young age, do you have any words of advice you’d like to give a young creative starting out in the design industry today?
Indeed I had great opportunities at only twenty and I am really grateful for them. My first advice, especially to a young creative, would be to listen to what your professors and professionals from the industry tell you. Even if you do not necessarily entirely agree with them, you must not be stubborn and take into account their opinions, always bearing them in mind. Nevertheless, also listen to your heart and your instinct because you are the only one who knows exactly what you want, and it is crucial to stay true to your identity. It is all about balance between both. Furthermore, an other important advice I would give would be to invest in your work. Never settle for less than what you want because of a constraint. Always try to find a solution for the things you imagine to be done the best way they can be. Putting the quality in your work is extremely valuable and can make all the difference. Investing in your work is never a waste.
5. What are your plans for the future? Are you planning on keeping the same inspiration behind your collections, or would you be willing to take on something different??
For now on I want to gain experience, more specifically in Japan, as it is also fundamentally part of my identity. One day, I would like to build my own brand, MIYAMATSU. The vision will probability be similar to the one I have today; yet, further discovering an other culture might spark other interests, and therefore could make this vision evolve. My collections are a reflection of my nostalgia, which is not exclusively about my summers in the French countryside. I believe that creating a story based on your memories ,offers a more unique and personal approach, which I find more attractive for the customers.
"My collections are a reflection of my nostalgia"
Discover Loulwa Miyamatsu Renouard De Valliere full collection
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Words by Lupe Baeyens
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