Discover Authentically French Espadrilles With Atelier Aliénor
I have been wearing quite a collection of comfy swoon worthy kicks lately! I never believed I would trade my high heel obsession but these days, I am so finding that comfort is just what I am needing!!! I am so excited to share my latest shoe obsession with you today and I promise you are in for a treat.
Enter Atelier Aliénor espadrilles. They are made in the south of France with the most premium materials and finest craftsmanship. The sole is entirely formed from jute for comfort and long lasting use. The exquisite leather they use comes from a French tannery that shares their values of craftsmanship, traditions and sustainability. They are just truly so special. It's not just the leather accents, gorgeous hues, and modern silhouettes — they're light, breathable, and look like they stepped right off the French Riviera, which is never a bad thing. They are so comfortable, versatile (easy to pack, wear, and transition day to night) and just plain gorgeous!!
I met Laurie, the founder of Atelier Aliénor a few years ago at a popup in Houston where she lives presently with her family. She was born on the French Mediterranean coast and spent a colorful childhood in Africa and lived the past decade in the beautiful city of Paris. She is in Paris now actually so be sure to check out her beautiful Instagram. I am so honored to feature this Q + A with A Laurie today and I am so very excited to be an ambassador for Atelier Aliénor!
“Where I come from, espadrilles are more than shoes.
They are a promise of an endless summer, tanned feet and romantic escapes.
I have always been a dreamer. And I believe that dreams are meant to come true.
Atelier Aliénor is one of mine.”
( All photos in the Q & A portion were provided by Laurie)
Interview With Laurie
-When did Atelier Aliénor first launch?
It all began when I allowed myself to dream and believe that I was the only one who could guide the path my journey took. Destiny isn’t something immovable. It was back in 2016. I was in Paris, just got married and had a baby when we moved to the US. I thought it was the right moment to develop a project that was true to who I am. I gave up my job in finance and started working on developing Atelier Aliénor. I had such a clear vision of what I wanted that it took me less than a year to create the brand. We launched spring 2017.
I only realize now how fast the creation of the brand was!
-As a self-diagnosed Francophile, I love the sound of “Atelier Aliénor.” What’s the story behind the name?
You are right, this name is very Français!
Part of our brand is to give honor to the heritage of how products are made and to the makers. “Atelier” means workshop. All of our partners are working by hand, using traditional methods. Craftsmanship defines what we do.
“Aliénor” is the feminist part of the name! It refers to Aliénor d’Aquitaine, Queen of France and England in the medieval period. She was born in the southwest of France where our workshop and tannery are located. Her contribution to our History is very unique and powerful.
Women are at the heart of Atelier Aliénor since all of our espadrilles are handcrafted by women.
-Where did your fascination with espadrilles/shoe-making stem from?
It brings me all the way back to my childhood. I was born in the south of France and grew up in Africa, in Gabon.
It was very important to my parents that I had roots and knew where I came from. Thanks to them, I’ve always had a deep attachment to home. Espadrilles are originally from the south of France and Spain. They are the epitome of our slow-living lifestyle.
My parents also instilled the love of well-made and long lasting goods. That’s why it was obvious to me that the brand would have strong values such as quality, integrity and authenticity.
-I noticed on the website that customers seem to return for more after they purchase their first pair of espadrilles from Atelier Alienor. What do you think sets you apart from other brands to retain such devoted and loyal customers?
I still can’t believe it but some of my customers have up to 10 pairs of our espadrilles! I think the quality and timeless style of our products make a difference. Our espadrilles are a combination of authenticity (our artisans have been crafting espadrilles for generations), simplicity and elegance.
They are easy to pair, so comfortable (our leather is so soft and silky, not comparable to any other – you’ll let me know your feedback on this!!). We use the same craftsmanship and materials as luxurious brands but our shoes are fairly priced since there is no middleman.
I treat all of my customers like my own family and have become friends with some of them. They know they’ll always have very dedicated customer service with personal attention!
(Oh annnd I absolutely agree Laurie…the leather is so soft and silky and makes them so easy to transition into a very dressy look for this reason)
-Your color scheme has gorgeous, earthy tones along with a few vibrant hues. I’m curious if you are inspired by nature! Where do you draw inspiration from?
I believe that trends always go out of style. That’s why I try to design collections with classic shapes and colors that are relevant throughout the years.
You are absolutely right! Nature inspires me a lot! Colors such as our lavender, olive, tan leather remind me of our landscapes in the south of France.
-Atelier Alienor proudly takes an ethical and environment-friendly approach to business. How has this impacted the way that you do business?
As an individual, I incorporate sustainable behaviors in my everyday life. It was absolutely non-negotiable that my business wouldn’t align with these values. The ethical and environmental approach is the essence of the brand. However, we are aware it comes with challenges, in particular financially speaking. All of the materials we use, the choice of our manual production in France, our sustainable packaging might be 10 times more expensive compared to others but it is something we are proud of and we will never change that.
With fashion being the 2nd biggest polluting industry, our planet didn’t need another polluting brand.
-You are based exclusively in France, and that is something that my readers love! Did you always want to solely utilize French artisans?
South of France is the cradle of espadrilles. That’s where we found the expert craftsmanship. All of our creations are handmade and the expression of a deep-rooted heritage. We also wanted our materials to have a story. Our leather comes from a family-owned tannery in the southwest of France. They have been working on this leather for generations and they developed expertise and specific craftsmanship techniques throughout the decades.
“Nothing is more precious than a unique thing.”
-You have spoken that your products never go on sale out of respect for the artisan’s work and time. Do you think this is a standard that more businesses should stand by?
Inventory is one of the biggest challenges for young brands like ours. In an ideal world, we would only produce what we would sell and there would be no waste…
That’s why we produce in small batches and we launch pre-order campaigns to test our new collections before going into production.
-Does Atelier Aliénor release new products individually or by line? Any hints for an upcoming release?
We have new collections every year. Thanks to these first two years, we now know better and we are incorporating the feedback we receive into our future collections. We will be launching a crowdfunding campaign next February to help us finance the rebranding of Atelier Aliénor.
-Atelier Aliénor has been featured in “Glamour” magazine more than once. I’m sure that was a great achievement! What are some of your brand’s proudest moments?
Seeing the espadrilles in Glamour was definitely one of my proudest moments! They contacted me last summer while I was in France. I thought I was going to faint!
Every “first” is a moment of proud and happiness… When I held the first pair of Atelier Aliénor in my hands, when we did our first photo shoot, when we launched our first popup, when we sold our first pair internationally, when we sold out for the first time, when two customers almost got into a fight to grab the last pair at a show, first popup in NYC,…
-As a woman who owns and operates a business, you encourage other women to step up to their goals. Any advice you would like to share for women pursuing the entrepreneurial journey?
Surround yourself with all the love and support you can get! An entrepreneurial journey can be very challenging. For example, struggling with uncertainty is not always easy. That’s why family and friends are absolutely essential. I am the luckiest woman to have married the most positive and loving husband! He’s always here to cheer me up and reminds me why I do this. I wouldn’t have done it without him.
On the professional side, build a team of experts around your business. We surely don’t know everything and they’ll have all the experience and skills you need to guide you!
Très chic, non?
Laurie is generously gifting my readers 10% off their first order using promo code GoFrenchYourself at checkout. I have the Midnight Blue Leather Sandals and adore the closed toe option and love that they also are so exceptionally feminine! Eyeing the Tan Leather Peep Toe Wedges for my next pair!!
