Smashing Darling Blog

Today’s interview is with Cecile Moreau designer of Recycled by Hyena. I wanted to start the interview with a bit from her bio. Who better to tell her story than her own voice…
I am a french artist and I live in America since several years now.

In everything I do, my main goal is to achieve perfection. Even though I know it is not really possible, I tend toward it the most I can. I don’t make compromises and I have a really strong sense of ethic.
It is why I work hours and hours on each of my creation.

SD: How did you get into fashion?
CM: Even though I always have been interested in costume history and fashion in general, I never really planned to become a clothing designer. I have a degree in visual art and I consider myself an artist. When I arrived in USA 5 years ago, I was totally broke and I ran into some problems to find clothing my size. So I bought a sewing machine and started to teach myself how to sew.

SD: What inspired you to start designing with pieces that already exist, by reconstructing them into beautiful one of a kind items?
CM: When I started to make clothes for myself I figured out fabric yardages could get expensive too.

So I turned to another solution: second hand clothing.

I always have been really preoccupied by pollution and waste and the way our beautiful planet is more and more littered and destroyed.

When I arrived in the USA, I got troubled by consumerism. A lot of people buy a lot of things they don’t even use. At the Goodwill store, I often found “second hand” clothing brand new with stores tags on.

That level of waste got me thinking and I looked for a way to create clothing without hurting the planet more. For me, the best way was to recycle what was already there.

There is also a social dimension to it. Now I try to find if the thrift stores I shop in are for profit or for charity. I have suppressed of my list the for-profit ones. I want my purchases to be eco friendly and socially friendly too! I think Goodwill stores have a very neat system empowering people to access a decent job.

SD: Can you describe your process for the pieces you make?
CM: I start by taking apart the whole garment, most of the time the inspiration goes along while reaping the seams which is a quite long process.

I sometimes draw the pieces before to help me to have an idea when I look for materials.

SD: If your clothes could speak, what would they say?
CM: That a lot of work went into each of them, that they are as unique as individuals. That they don’t care about trends because they are the result of fun and creativity, that they are free, but comfortable and very well made!

SD: Did you study fashion or are you a self taught designer?
CM: I am a self taught designer but having studied art my whole life, it really help me with shapes and colors.

SD: What does your average day entail?
CM: Working from home is such a pleasure for me. I can do what I want of my day. I am not an early bird at all. So generally the morning I sleep. I work in my studio most of the afternoon and sometimes at night. I spend a lot of time with my fur kids: a cat who think she is a dog and a greyhound who is like a big cat! When I can’t stand anymore to be at home, I go for a long walk in a park with my dog.

SD: Describe your personal style?
CM: I am not sure I have one! I like stripes, I like rave pants with straps. I wear skate shoes. I only wear natural material. I can go with one piece of clothing for years. I prefer quality over quantity.

I used to dress all in black (gothic, punk, new wave) for 15 years. I changed totally when I arrived in USA. I experimented with colors a lot at that time. I had an “all pink” period. It was really fun. Now I am going toward earth tones, olives and kaki.

And I never wear skirts.

SD: Who are your fashion icons (past or present)? Do you think they influenced your personal style?
CM: I don’t have any icon. I used to really enjoy Marc Le Bihan’s work. I don’t follow trends. I pick up my inspiration in my everyday life, readings, movies etc.

SD: Do you have any current fashion obsessions?
CM: I am obsessed with Japan and its culture since a very long time. I love everything zakka and linen fabric. Lately I have discovered bamboo fabric after an extensive search of a sustainable fabric. I can be obsessed with a color or a material – linen, orange for example – but rarely with a trend or shape.

SD: What advice would you give someone wanting to start a line of clothing?
CM: Follow your heart. Work hard. Be perfectionist.