Portrait #3 : Lisa Gachet
Meeting with Lisa Gachet, successful creator behind Make My Lemonade
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Queen of Do It Yourself and talented founder of the most feel-good brand of read-to-wear, Lisa Gachet recently opened her very first boutique in Paris, on the banks of the Canal Saint-Martin. On the occasion of our recent collaboration with the brand, Lisa opened the doors of this new graphic and colourful HQ, a new address not to be missed in the east of Paris... Ready for the tour?
Hello Lisa ! Can you introduce yourself and tell us about the Make My Lemonade adventure?
Before Making My Lemonade I graduated from Duperré school in 2009 after a BTS and a professional degree in fashion design. I had the opportunity chance to work very quickly in the Men's Studio of Yves Saint Laurent. I then worked at Bonpoint as assistant to the artistic director and very quickly I started working on my blog Make My Lemonade long before it became a brand. I also had my fair share of hours as a barmaid and sales assistant, which had a big impact on me and helped me hone my business skills!
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You've just opened a permanent space near the Canal Saint-Martin, can you tell us more about it?
For a long time I had the sweet dream of having my own place... And then one day I had the courage to express my wish out loud. I also have the chance to have a crazy team working by my side and who believed in it as strongly as I did. Here we are at 61 quai de Valmy, in our "castle"! To tell you the truth, what I like best about my job is creating a universe for each collection. So for the last 2/3 years I've been collecting images for the opening day of my permanent boutique. Needless to say, I had a file as thick as a bible to give to my architects.
"I have a lot of graphic obsessions, but flowers come up on my moodboards very, very regularly!"
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How did you envision this place?
As the shop is long, we wanted to create a beautiful perspective made of arches, so we decided to double each wall. To continue playing with the curves and to stay in the roundness, our architect Fleur Delesalle imagined dressing each counter of the store with half PVC tubes, which create grooves around a volume, like a strawberry charlotte.
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The space you prefer in your shop?
The fitting rooms without hesitation! I could stay there for hours!
Flowers are a real source of inspiration for you, which one do you prefer and why?
I have a lot of graphic obsessions but flowers come back very, very regularly in my moodboards! I would say that my favorite flower is the peony, I like it to be heavy and fragile at the same time. But it's a very hard question, I love a lot of them!
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What is your link with the botanical world?
For a long time, I made all the plants around me die... But for the last 2/3 years I've been passionate about plants, I take the time to take good care of them, to make them listen to jazz, to make my cuttings... I wouldn't say that I have a green thumb, but almost!
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We were very touched to make this collaboration with you. How did you come up with this idea?
I discovered you on Instagram and I loved the poetry that emanates from your universe, hyper clear, beautiful and precise since its creation. And to tell you the truth, I was touched that you agreed to collaborate with me.
Apart from collaboration, what is your favorite herbarium at Herbarium? What does it remind you of?
I love them all! It evokes memories of childhood, of projects of abandoned herbariums in the sayings of the house, which we find again with delight a few years later!
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There are different spaces dedicated to DIY in your shop (a room for workshops, a corner for people wishing to buy your patterns and fabric...). Why do you think DIY is so successful?
Because there's nothing more rewarding than hearing "Where did you buy it?" and answering "Nowhere, I did it myself! "And then, at a time when our society is going through a period of hyperspeed, I think that taking the time to learn and pass on knowledge is also the downside of our world, and that's why handmade craftsmanship is so important.
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Your favourite addresses in Paris?
Le bistrot Miznon, 37 quai de Valmy 75010 / Le Spa O'kari, 22 rue Dussoubs 75002 / Sacrés Coupons, 4 bis rue d'Orsel 75018 / Guilo Guilo, 8 rue Garreau 75018 / Holy Belly, 19 rue Lucien Sampaix 75010
What makes you happy and gives you a smile?
To see my team come to work every morning! And for a smile I don't need much, just a little ray of sunshine!
Can we follow you on instagram?
Absolutely!
On @makemylemonade and on my personal account @lisagachet.
Any accounts you'd like us to discover?
I love @bonniestrange and for flower lovers, an inexhaustible source of inspiration: @apetalunfolds!
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