Today’s post written by Angela
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Today I’d like to introduce you to one extraordinary individual: Anabel Fournier from Petits Fournier – www.petitsfournier.com.
I met Anabel at the Bubble trade show in New York recently, and was instantly attracted to her fine knits for babies and kids. Hearing the story behind her label further enriched my appreciation of her range.
Anabel’s warmth and beauty made me feel so fantastically inspired, and I am so pleased to share her story with you.
PS: A small detail that Anabel hasn’t mentioned that I know, is that her women’s scarves were including in the gift bags at the Oscars(!!) together with her talented sister Elie’s stationery range. That’s one creative family! Also, be sure to take a look at Anabel’s blog, and so i whisper – her cake baking skills are absolutely incredible! -and her Flickr photostream for some more great photos of Africa and Bolivia.
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Tell us a little about your life, family and hobbies
I live in Nairobi, Kenya, Africa. My birthplace is San Jose, Costa Rica but I left when I was twenty years old. Since then I have lived in Spain, Panama, and Bolivia before coming to Kenya.
My daughter Daniela is 9 years old and is also an artist. Her favorite activity at home and school is anything related to art. She always carries a bag with coloring pencils and a notepad. She loves being my model, especially for the accessories line.
My son Sebastian is a nature kid. He is always outside, rain or shine. Still likes to wear mommy’s clothing when he wants to look “smart” like he say.
My husband Marcos does not have a background in fashion or design but has great taste and helps me a lot with the financial department.
My favorite hobby is painting with acrylics on wood. I also enjoy baking. My favorite food is Peruvian food, anything from the sea. My favorite color is blue, which I always include in my collections.
What is your professional background?
Art runs in my veins as I have been surrounded by art all my life. I come from a family of painters and very crafty people so this has influenced who I am today. I have a graphic arts background but also in hotel and restaurant management. I enjoy cooking very much and I find that my preference to baking sweets and pastry reflects in my continuous desire to create and perfect. For a few years I had a restaurant in the highlands of Panama before moving to Bolivia and continuing my education in fashion design.
How did Fournier come about?
We moved to Bolivia in 2000 when my husband took a job in a poverty alleviation project financed by USAID.
I was immediately impacted by the indigenous Bolivian women who learn to knit at a very early age and can be seen everywhere maintaining this part of their heritage. I am not a person who can stay still and my hands have to always be busy doing something so I started working with a small group of these knitters and started putting a small collection together. I knew I could make this work and was dazzled by the intricacy of what these women could produce when given some guidance.
I took my first collection on the road and literally did the cold call by knocking from door to door at some the children’s stores in the United States until I started getting some accounts. It all took off from there and started then learning about some of the specialized trade shows where I started exhibiting the Fournier collections and before I knew it we were employing more than 60 knitters year round.
You live in Africa: tell us how you came to live there, and what your day-to-day life is like.
I came to Africa as a result from my husband’s work. Marcos has been working for many years doing development work assisting rural farmers improve their skills in agribusiness and marketing. We came to Kenya to work implementing a coffee project for East African countries in Kenya, Tanzania, Rwanda and Ethiopia for the Gates Foundation.
As with Bolivia, the colors and textures of Africa have just dazzled me and my creativity has reached another level. I spend my days creating new things and working with the immense variety of materials available in Africa. I take this inspiration back to Bolivia when I have to design our collections.
I am a mother of two so I have to split my time also in the many school activities, doing homework and packing school lunches. Since we are now living in a different time zone at night I stay up late hours to keep in touch with my workshop and our clients.
What has the proudest moment in your business been?
Everytime I produce a new collection is my proudest moment but it is highlighted when I get feedback from our customers commenting how much they like what we produce.
What inspires you?
I am inspired by what surrounds me at any given time. I absolutely enjoy traveling and meeting other cultures and I take in the colors and texture of what they wear.
In Kenya the color of the soils contrasted with the variety of colors in the fabrics worn by women and children keep me most inspired. The natural light and how nature and people reflect on it also provides me with a desire to create.
What are your top 3 favourite things for babies and kids right now?
1. I absolutely love the Kidsonroof line of cardboard houses and accessories for children. They are all made from recycled materials.
2. Wallnutz Wall stickers I think are a wonderful way to decorate a childs, room and the kids can also play with them when they are re-positionable.
3. In fashion I like the new trend of simplicity in many European brands, like Essential from Belgium – natural fibres for clean cut designs.
What is your favourite childhood memory?
Growing up in Costa Rica was a blessing since I was always surrounded by nature which brings back amazing memories of afternoons spent cycling with friends and pets in out neighborhood.
One of my fondest memories is moving to a new house with my family with a swimming pool that we enjoyed all summer long and even during the mornings of our very long rainy season.
US readers can purchase from the Fournier webstore and stockists. Petits Fournier is not currently available to purchase in Australia, but that is set to change. Watch this space!
