Hello Alice, how would you introduce yourself ?

Hello Syrine! I’m Alice, I live in France near Nantes, I’m 34 years old, and I’ve been an entrepreneur since 2012. At the start of my career, I created my own handmade fashion jewelry brand while working as an in-house stylist for large retail brands. In 2019, after experiencing the struggles of launching a brand myself, I decided to become a freelance stylist to support textile entrepreneurs in creating their brands and collections.

You’re a fashion stylist and textile graphic designer. I believe this passion began in your childhood. Can you tell us more?

That’s right! Since I was little, I’ve been surrounded by ribbons and fabrics. My grandmother was a seamstress, and when she looked after me, we made clothes for my dolls. I loved rummaging through her things to find the perfect button I needed. It was also with her that I drew my first designs and mood boards (even if I didn’t know that’s what they were called back then!).

Today, when responding to client briefs, how do you develop your creativity and inspiration? Do you follow your intuition or the latest trends?

Inspiration rarely comes from nowhere, although, of course, I sometimes get spontaneous ideas when I see a client’s brief—thanks to my experience and the designs I’ve already created. To develop my creativity, I have several tools at my disposal. First, I stay constantly updated on market trends, especially via Instagram and Pinterest. I also buy a lot of books throughout the year and visit exhibitions—whether they’re about fashion, color palettes, or even art. Generally, I remain alert to sources of inspiration. For example, when I travel, I take many photos to save for later—these could be street art, posters, or architecture. Finally, I try to continually train myself on updates to the tools I use, marketing, or developments in the textile industry.

When it comes to trends, today’s flow of information is so dense that it’s impossible to know them all. I’m convinced that a good product doesn’t necessarily have to be inspired by a specific trend. To me, the most important thing is that it meets the needs of the person who will wear it.

People often confuse the role of a stylist with that of a pattern maker. Can you explain the difference?

The stylist is like the brand creator’s right hand. They imagine the garment while ensuring the brand’s requirements are met (outlined in the design brief). For example, when we worked together on Nanamoon’s collection, Syrine had product ideas in mind but didn’t have the skills to draw them. So I helped her translate her ideas into drawings.Stylists also ensure consistency within the collection.
From the sketches and technical files created by the stylist, the pattern maker transforms the designs into 3D models. Imagine a garment as a puzzle that’s been assembled—each piece must first be drawn flat before being cut from fabric. The pattern maker creates these “puzzle pieces,” which we call patterns, and establishes measurements for different sizes.

I’m someone who works intuitively, but for someone more analytical, could you give 3 or 4 tips for choosing a stylist?

First, I recommend looking at the types of projects the stylist has worked on before. If you check my website and online portfolio, you’ll quickly see that I have a particular affinity for baby and children’s clothing. However, if you like the person’s work and feel their style aligns with your brand, have a conversation to see if they’d be interested in your project.
Next, make sure the service aligns with what you need. Personally, as a stylist helping beginners, I find it important to offer real support with discussions and follow-ups. There’s a lot of teaching involved, which can be very rewarding.
Finally, chemistry is very important because you’ll likely work with this person for several weeks, and hopefully throughout your entire project.

You design for others and help them create their brand. Do you ever think about creating something for yourself?

Even though I already had a handmade jewelry brand, it was very artisanal, and I never launched industrial production. I admit that it’s a project that’s still in the back of my mind! After seeing my clients’ brands grow, I have plenty of product ideas. But it’s a project that takes a lot of time, so it requires careful thought beforehand, and I don’t think I’m ready yet. Maybe one day!

Artificial intelligence is becoming increasingly present today. Have you started integrating it into your work routine?
Absolutely! As an entrepreneur, I need to work for my clients, manage my accounting, and communicate… These tools save me a lot of time. For example, I use ChatGPT to create my Instagram content. It helps me formalize my ideas or develop new formats. For my work as a stylist and graphic designer, I try to test tools offered by Adobe when I have the time. Sometimes the results are promising—it can help me bring a motif idea to life, for example, which I then refine. It gives me a good starting point. But these tools are still in their early stages, and I admit that I often work faster doing it myself than trying to master AI!

Do you have a project or accomplishment you’re particularly proud of, and why?

Honestly, I’m proud of most projects I work on. But this year, I’m especially happy about the launch of Nanamoon’s collection! A lot of time can pass between designing and the final product launch, and I found that Syrine worked very efficiently with the factory, which allowed the products to launch this year. For a stylist, seeing the products they designed come to life is incredibly satisfying. Plus, I was happy to work on sportswear—I’d done it before for large retailers, but the goals were different. Here, I could truly express my creativity and collaborate with Syrine to create the best possible product.

Is there a project or collaboration that left a lasting impression on you, and what did you learn from it?

I worked with a children’s clothing brand in Algeria, Petit Fennec, from the start of the project to the launch of its first collections. This experience made me realize all the challenges textile entrepreneurs face before even getting to the design stage. It taught me to share my knowledge with my clients. I always try to advise them, even on issues outside styling. I also created my “First Steps Towards Your Brand” program based on these conversations. I realized that many brand creators design their models too early, without working on their brand’s foundations first. So I decided to guide them through this part.

What part of your work do you find the most rewarding, and why?

The most rewarding part is seeing my designs being sold and hearing feedback from my clients’ customers. At that point, I say to myself: “We did a great job!”

https://www.alicedebarge.com/