Interview - Alumni & Entrepreneure - Olivia Louvet

Dear alumni, 

We are very happy to share with you our conversation with OLIVIA LOUVET, graduate of the IFM's Specialized Master in Fashion and Luxury Management in 2012 and founder of BODY&CLYDE, a committed underwear brand.

Body&Clyde is a responsible brand for a more sustainable fashion: French design, quality Portuguese manufacturing, reasoned production and fair prices.

Olivia Louvet has worked as a stylist for Dior and Balenciaga. She was also part of the lingerie team at Galeries Lafayette, before embarking on the BODY & CLYDE adventure.

Hello, Olivia, Thanks for this conversation . We would like to know... Where did your interest for sustainability emerge from?

>I've been working in fashion for over 10 years. I noticed very early on that fast fashion clothes were very poorly made. The quality of the materials used (a lot of synthetics), the finishings, and the manufacturing conditions leave much to be desired. For me, this equation is wrong. There is an overconsumption of synthetic materials which leads to environmental issues that we all know now. I also like to talk about the "health and well-being aspect". Wearing synthetic fabrics or fabrics with toxic and chemical finishings can have negative impacts on our health. It's important to remember this, especially regarding underwear. We hear about endocrine disruptors in the beauty industry but we have the same issue with textiles. 

I stopped wearing and buying fast fashion clothes about 6 years ago, which I'm quite proud of!

2 How did you make your professional practices coincide with your CSR priorities?

>Offering a product which respects the environment and health was my priority when I launched Body&Clyde. However, being a small enterprise, this can be very difficult. There's always an issue of money and power, you don't get the same treatment from suppliers and producers when you are my size. You need a negotiation power. All I can do is adapt to this situation by prioritizing my CSR conditions, I choose to go step by step. I try to go a step further at each new collection, to achieve the least impactful product. I learnt to surround myself with actors of the industry who are as sensitive to these issues as I am.  

We are trying to find a solution to avoid using the "blister" packages once our products leave the factory, whilst taking into account the storage issue. I am also thinking about making Body&Clyde a Bcorp certified company. 

3 This time of confinement, has been, for many, a time to introspect. Which activities/habits do you think you will change or pursue following this sanitary crisis? 

> Travelling less but better, and favour the train. After slow life and slow food, it's time to slow travel. 

4 Within IFM, how would you like the alumni to support sustainable development in fashion? 

I would like us to  create  a directory of all the sustainable actors in the textile and fashion industry (suppliers, garment makers etc.). 

Olivia Louvet olivia@bodyandclyde.fr

Interview by Olivia Chammas, founder The Big Blue Project