Paul & Joe designer Sophie Mechaly in front of her latest Autumn/Winter 2014 collection in Jades Store, Düsseldorf
A glimmer of retro, a pinch of playfulness, a bit of ease and a lot of Parisian coolness: The successful ingredients of the French label Paul & Joe descend from the creative-head of the designer Sophie Mechaly. Once J’N’C met her last Friday for an interview, one understands why the label Paul & Joe radiates so much charm and happiness…
Mrs Mechaly, Paris is one of the biggest fashion cities of the world. How much of your hometown finds itself in your designs and where exactly lies the difference between French and German fashion?
I was born in Paris, went to school in Paris and I live the French culture until this very day. Of course what I learned and lived, flows into my collections. And to me it’s the culture, the history and the education that makes the difference to Germany. Every country is different and so is its fashion.
What is a typical French attitude in your opinion?
Paris is simply special and has a great history. And although it is not overly big, every place is different. There are surprises in every corner - even for me, as a native Parisian - I discover new places all the time.
You like to travel a lot frequently. What is your favorite place of the entire world?
Paris! I can travel wherever I want, but there is no place like home.
Do you believe that a city affects a woman’s style?
Yes, but like I already said: environment, education, the people around you and the experiences play a big role as well. Besides clothing, your own manners influence a woman’s style. French women are a bit different nowadays.
In what way?
They mix more; they are more daring, more eccentric and more extravagant. After all they are no longer so strict, but cooler. They have more freedom - due to fashion in general. One can create its very own look out of this pool of trends but like I said: How a woman behaves and how she talks complete the total picture.
You once said: “Paul & Joe is about happiness”. How do you carry this feeling through your label?
By the versatility of my collections, but especially through colors and prints.
Where do you get your inspiration for all those prints?
From different sources – with childhood leading the way. I never really grew up, because I like fairytales, books and old movies. All this is mixed up in my head. When I work on a collection, those ‘little-girl-memories’ come back. I want to put a smile on people’s faces give them a feeling of the past but I want to create something contemporary as well. The prints come either from my memory, a movie or an art-exhibition. They don’t necessarily have to match but I take care that the prints differentiate from each other. I don’t take fashion too seriously, even if it’s about business.
What is the Autumn/Winter 2014 collection about that is now available in stores?
This collection focusses on floral prints combined with camouflage prints and a colorful mix of pink, grey and olive – which I think is the new grey. I like to tell a story; this one is about a woman in the forest who finds a beautiful house. It reminds me of an old story and it’s a bit mythical.
Paul & Joe clients range from young to old. Was this your intention?
No, actually not. My plan was to simply create clothing that I would want to wear myself. I wanted to design fashion that is easy to wear, easy to understand but with a special twist.
19 years of Paul & Joe. Does it feel like having a grown-up child?
Yes! Especially because Paul and Joe are the names of my own sons. It’s important to take care of your kids, your family. My label is my third child.
What is your secret that makes Paul & Joe so successful?
First I ask myself: How would I wear it? It’s important for me to design clothes that people want to keep and wear two or five years later.
Timeless fashion?
Exactly.
How would you describe your personal style?
I love to wear shirts and I love to mix prints. I used to wear high heels but for a few months now, I’ve been wearing flat shoes - simply because they are more comfortable.
And what do you like most at your job?
To choose fabrics. When I receive the samples from the Italian mills, I open the box like a little child to check how they turned out.
If it would not have been fashion, what would you have become instead?
I would have become a journalist. I like talking to people, to watch them and to share things with them.
Thank you very much for the interview.
