Meeting with Marie, coordinator at Mode Estime

Hello, Marie Saudin. You are the "Integration Coordinator - Support and Projects" at MODE ESTIME, a "sewing integration" workshop in Seine-Saint-Denis, near Paris. Its mission is to restore self-esteem to vulnerable people through fashion.

At JULES & JENN, we know your workshop very well, having worked with you since 2019, but how would you explain the project to someone who has never heard of you?

I would say that Mode Estime is an association that uses the textile industry as a pretext for the social and professional integration of people in difficulty. Particularly people who are far from employment and/or who have disabilities.

Who can join the Fashion Esteem workshop?

These are people who are referred by associations, social workers, and employment counselors. They generally haven't worked for several months, or even several years, or have never even had any experience in France, and above all, they need support and guidance to acquire professional skills. This may involve access to training before accessing employment, as we are supporting people with little or no qualifications or diplomas. Currently, 15 employees (of almost 10 different nationalities) are employed on Île Saint Denis.

Photo credit © Mode Estime

What do the workshop employees make?

It's quite varied, but it's mostly textiles and household linens: cushions, throws, etc. We also make clothing, but rather specific pieces, which therefore require slightly more advanced techniques. In these cases, not everyone in the workshop can make them, as we accept all levels, even beginners. The point is to help everyone progress, according to their level upon arrival.

We also do upcycling: many small designers call on us when they want to transform used materials or scraps to create a new use, a new garment. We have worked from advertising tarpaulins to make recycled poufs (for our client La Tête Dans Les Nuages), t-shirts made from old t-shirts, bloomers, etc. And then more recently for larger projects such as the FFF (French Football Federation) for the recycling of all their 1-star jerseys into hospital gowns, or their promotional tarpaulins into pencil cases for the students of their football clubs. Even luxury brands call on us, especially since the 2020 law against waste.

What are you most proud of since joining the association?

I have always worked with people in social difficulty, but it is true that on this project, my greatest pride is this regain of confidence through professional integration. These are people who have been marked in their career, who do not necessarily meet the market requirements in terms of diplomas, experience or integration and the activity of sewing gives an almost immediate result, people are very quickly proud of themselves! So my pride is ultimately to see people confident again! It is true that we organize activities that highlight them: we teach them techniques and we organize workshops where they show all this to the general public and to beginners who want to learn sewing. And there, we really feel this pride of being capable, this desire to pass on, this assurance, and it is so beautiful to see.

Photo credit © Mode Estime

At JULES & JENN, instead of holding sales, we're implementing "Solidarity Sales and End of Lines": that is, we've created a "Last Items" category on our e-shop with models that won't be renewed. Rather than selling them off, we're selling them at a more affordable price, and 100% of the profits are donated to your association. Can you explain to our customers how you use or reinvest these donations?

A workshop like ours certainly receives aid on the one hand, but still has an activity, a turnover to ensure. This requires production time but also, to carry out all the actions I have spoken to you about, non-productive time, which is not funded. So, it is on this time that JULES & JENN fully supports us: it allows us to consider other actions that reinforce our values ​​and our support projects, always intended for our employees. This covers technical training time but also more targeted training, such as linguistics (not all of them have a perfect command of French) or the development of their own skills, then the product development of our own upcycling brand Mode Estime.

And what are your association's plans for 2022?

Precisely, in order to develop the upcycling aspect and to meet the demand of the designers who call on us, we plan to open another workshop in Épinay. We will be moving to an unusual location (the renovated Épinay RER station) in February, shared with eco-artisans and eco-designers who will be working extensively on the issue of reuse. The idea is to offer a design office of 6 people and a new service offering: pattern making/prototyping on small and medium series. The objective is to really work in depth on all these material revaluation projects for all these companies and communities interested in the issue of textile waste reduction.

Photo credit © Mode Estime

2022 is also the time for us to approach workshops that want to train people in specific techniques such as cutting. We will therefore look into the issue of training in textiles, given the growing demand for specialized labor following relocation and the revival of "made in France." Finally, in parallel, our director is also working on the issue of disability and adapted fashion. She is trying to find solutions to provide access to this fashion and offer it to audiences who do not have access to it today. This project has remained essential since the birth of Mode Estime and we hope to be able to develop it in the years to come.

Thank you Marie for your fight and for this desire to make fashion, self-esteem and solidarity rhyme!