INTERVIEW #15 GABRIELLE MARCEL

“At first I was designing clothes for myself but after posting a few photos on Instagram, people were showing more and more interest and started asking where they could buy my creations.”

What is Gabrielle Marcel?

Gabrielle Marcel is a made-to-order brand fuelled by deadstock fabrics. Everything is handmade by me from leftover textiles. The essence of this project is to transform fabrics that would otherwise end up in landfills, into garments.

How did you come up with the idea of starting your own brand? 

Well, I’ve always been very creative and ever since I was 6-7 years old, I would spend all my free time doing DIY’s. I could spend days in my bedroom just creating and crafting different projects. I’ve always had an interest for fashion, my mom taught me how to sew 15 years ago and when covid-19 hit, I suddenly had a lot more time to spend in front of my sewing machine. At first I was designing clothes for myself but after posting a few photos on Instagram, people were showing more and more interest and started asking where they could buy my creations. That was an amazing feeling and that’s pretty much how Gabrielle Marcel came to life. 

When did you launch?

I started the brand back in October 2020, so it’s been around 7 months now that I’ve been up and running. Back then I was living in Copenhagen up until recently when I moved back to Brussels. I now have my own studio where I design new pieces and sew all my orders. Launching this brand has been a great journey so far! It’s a lot of fun and definitely a looot of work! 

“Sourcing fabrics is so much fun and the essence of this creative process: I first find the fabrics and then design the clothes!”

Which piece from the current collection is your favourite?

I definitely have a big crush on the Bruxelles blouse. It has a special place in my heart because it is the first blouse that I commercialized. I made so many different prototypes before making the perfect pattern for it. 

How long does it take to make the Bruxelles blouse?

It takes me about three hours to cut out the pieces and sew together the Bruxelles blouse. 

Where are your customers based?

My customers are very international. They come a bit everywhere from Central Europe, Scandinavia, the US and even Australia!

What has been the biggest gain so far?

Simply the fact that I get to wake up every morning and do what I love and contribute to my own dreams. I can really push my boundaries every day! The social aspect of it is definitely a gain for me too! I’ve met so many incredible people so far, which I’m very grateful for. 

Where do you find your inspiration?

My inspiration comes from Brussels, which is one of the reasons why I moved here. I’m inspired by people’s simplicity and its unique imperfect architecture. In my eyes, Brussels is perfectly imperfect and it’s inspiring! 

Where do you source your deadstock fabrics from?

To be honest, it was very hard when I first started. I knew that if I were to start this brand, I had to source in a conscious way and find deadstock fabrics. I googled and searched around a lot! But it was by really taking the time to understand the meaning of deadstocks and by reaching out to people that I started getting good addresses. For now, I find my fabrics mainly here in Brussels and in Portugal.  Sourcing fabrics is so much fun and the essence of this creative process: I first find the fabrics and then design the clothes!

What importance has sustainability for Gabrielle Marcel?

Sustainability is a big thing. My brand is reflecting the journey I’ve been through. Still 2 years ago I was consuming a lot of fast-fashion without really being aware of the harm done behind the scenes. Realizing that waste and mass production is a big challenge in the fashion industry made me want to fight against it and offer clothes that are made both ethically and consciously. For now, my priority is to reduce waste. 

What is your relationship to fashion, in terms of consumption?

“I think we should also take into consideration whether the garment was mass produced or not.”

I mostly wear vintage and my own clothes. I used to buy a lot of fast fashion but I still own most of these pieces as of today and try to take good care of them! I’ll either still wear them or try to upcycle them. 

What is your advice to people out there who seek to create a sustainable closet?

I think that It’s all about keeping the overproduction in mind and therefore the waste that comes with it. Learning about the brand you’re buying from and filtering the greenwashed communication out of it helps in making better decisions when buying fashion. In my opinion, it’s not about just wearing organic cotton or recycled fabrics, I think we should also take into consideration whether the garment was mass produced or not. On the other hand, a sustainable closet shouldn’t come with too much pressure either.