French Brand Of Wax Bags + Pouches- Meet WaxMalia
“Le Wax c’est chic”
Happy Friday everyone!!!! And Happy #FrenchFridaysWithGFY!
I am so excited to share this Black-Owned French brand with you that specializes in wax products founded by the wisest 15 year old girl!!!
WaxMalia chooses to employ Ivorian artisans and uses fabrics made in Côte d'Ivoire. It is a family business created by a daughter and her father. (so so special)
From Paris 🇫🇷 to Abidjan 🇨🇮
I just love my Sac Pliable en wax in the Feuilles DE Magnolia print so much! This foldable bag slips nicely into my handbag so I never have to be without a bag for a purchase or whatever else I may need it for.
Everyone needs one!
In this Q + A feature—we talk about their inspiration, their work and their future plans with Wax Malia. Thank you so much for your time Malia!
Getting To Know Waxmalia
-Where do you find inspiration for your designs?
For the beginning I decided to offer well known models on which I added my personal touch. The tote bag, for example, is a basic, a classic. I'm working on a new product, for every day girl and woman. I want it beautiful, easy to wear, and practical. Inspiration is everywhere! So I can go outside and spend the day looking at people in the street and imagine a bag all the women I met during the day, despite their differences , could adopt. Ideas can also come when talking with friends or family
-WaxMalia is family business created by a daughter and her father! Can you tell us all about this?
In 2018, at the age of 13, when my father went on a trip to Ivory Coast, Côte d'Ivoire, I asked him to sew me tote bags in wax. Upon his return, I loved the bags and I submitted to him the idea of offering these products that I liked so much, to as many people as possible. And that's how it all started. We didn't want a shop so we created a website and a brand. We first decided to test the products (5 models to start with) with our friends and family (our first customers).
It was successful! We then decided to launch the brand on a larger scale.
-What's the most rewarding part of your job?
What I find most rewarding in my work is starting from an idea and arriving at a final product, exactly the one I imagined. And then, to receive the satisfaction of my customers who tell me that they love and are happy with our products. I'm happy to have made someone happy.
-What's your greatest challenge as a designer right now?
I'm not very good at drawing. So, my every day challenge to be overcome is therefore to transmit, as good as possible, to the tailor, who sews my bags, the product as I imagine it.
When I work on a model, I use all the means at my disposal:
-first of all a text to describe the product as I see it
- some sketches
-pictures
- collage
With all these information I expect the craftsman to produce the perfect bag.
-What's a little-known fact about your brand that you wish more people realized?
I remember the brand was almost called waxmax. Max is my father's first name. During our working meetings, we first thought about this name. That sounded great and that meant maximum wax. However , very quickly we dismissed this idea and waxmalia naturally imposed itself on us. Malia is my first name.
-What are some of your most popular items?
All the items we offer are popular. People love them all! One of them is called "fond de sac", bottoms of bag, a small bag with several pockets. With this bag you are not supposed to look for your keys any more. This bag allows you to store your keys, your coins, your cards.... in the multiple pockets and this avoids you're having to constantly search for them. Thanks to this bag, all your things can be transferred from one bag to another very easily. The Fond de Sac is so beautiful that some customers refuse to hide it in the bottom of a bag. They go so far as to adopt the transparent bag, so that the bottom of the bag is no longer hidden.
-What's in the pipeline right now? Any sneak peeks or upcoming projects you want to share?
We have recently put new designs of some products online including some masks. We have to protect ourselves and our family from the covid 19, and if possible with style. We call them WaxMasks. We already have several projects in progress but we want to take our time to do it step by step, and do it well. (find the masks here)
First of all, we want to increase the products range, develop new products! We are also thinking of meeting our customers during ephemeral sales or pop up store. Theses sales will be the test before maybe opening a shop. I want to make the brand known all over the world!
-What are you listening to in the studio while you're working ?
I don't really listen to music when I'm working. However, when I put some on, I listen to my favourite music, music that makes me happy, music that makes me feel good and music that I like to sing or classical music or piano pieces.
-The workday is over! What is your favorite thing to do to unwind?
Once, the working day is over, I go back to my teenage life. I rest, I talk with my friends, I sing, I listen to music. I spend time on my phone, on Instagram to talk with my followers. I also have my extracurricular activities like dancing, I do my homework and I work during school time.
-What's the greatest compliment you've ever received from a customer?
I only receive positive feedback and compliments, encouragement from our customers or people who are new to the brand. But one of the compliments that struck me the most was from a young woman who told me that our products were incredible and that they made her proud to have African roots.
-Fondest memories of Côte d'Ivoire ?
I have a lot of memories of Ivory Coast as I went there several times. It is my country of origin and I have family there with whom I spend each time great moments.
I also cannot forget wonderful landscapes.
But , some of my best memories are when I go to the market looking for our fabrics, and I see all these beautiful stalls, and beautiful colorful fabrics, or when I go to meet our tailors and see how our products are made.
-Is there anything else you'd like to tell our Go French Yourself readers?!
Yes, I wanted to thank them for taking the time to read the article through. And that if they want to find us and learn more about us, they can follow us on our instagram : @waxmalia.
And if I have a piece of advice to give to those who wish to undertake:
Believe in yourself, believe in your project. The first person who must believe in your project is yourself. You are the master of your destiny and your success. Nothing is impossible. Nothing is impossible. Nothing is impossible, even at a young age.
It is important to surround yourself well, surround yourself with people who want your good and your success and who encourage you. Do not let go. It won't always be easy, but don't give up at the first hurdle, but rather overcome it.
Discover Wax Malia below!
“A PROPOS DE NOUS
En 2018, nous avons créé une marque de mode et accessoires spécialisée dans les produits en wax.
WaxMalia est une marque française. Nos produits sont uniquement vendus en ligne.
La marque choisit de faire travailler des artisans ivoiriens et utilise des tissus made in Côte d’Ivoire. C’est une entreprise familiale créée par une fille et son père.
Le logo, les slogans, les tissus sont choisis par les créateurs.
Tout a débuté , lorsque le père part en voyage en Côte d’Ivoire.
Sa fille lui demande de lui faire coudre des sacs en wax.
A son retour en France, sa fille lui soumet l’idée de proposer ces produits qui lui plaisent tant, au plus grand nombre.
Ils ont alors créé un site web et une marque.
Nous souhaitons avant tout partager le plaisir de porter des produits aux si belles couleurs chatoyantes.”
