10 minutes with The Vanguard: GAUCHERE

May 28, 2020
Net-A-Porter

As part of our interview series with the new brands selected for NET-A-PORTER’s The Vanguard program, we spoke with Marie-Christine Statz, founder of Paris-based label GAUCHERE. 

Marie-Christine was refining her technique in Paris at the École de la Chambre Syndicale de la Couture Parisienne when her teacher baptized her La Gauchere, French for left-handed, a characteristic that profoundly influenced her approach to design and made her creations so unique and easily recognizable. Designed for the progressive woman, GAUCHERE appeals to women who, ‘live and let live’, and the pieces are centred around clean-lined silhouettes and muted colours, offering chic pieces and sharp tailoring.

Marie-Christine launched her brand in 2013, having started her career at New York’s Parsons School of Design, following which she worked at Narciso Rodriguez and Diane Von Furstenberg. In 2014 and 2015 she was among the finalists of the prestigious ANDAM award. Today, Marie-Christine continues to create garments that point out the individual through flattering tailoring and intricate work on pleats. 

What is the inspiration behind GAUCHERE and what motivated you to launch the brand?

It was passion and a certain drive of wanting to be independent that made me start my own brand. I believe my work is intuitive and inspired by today’s zeitgeist. My vision is to create garments that point out the individual. At the heart of each collection is the art of tailoring, intricate work on pleats and sculptural volumes.

Can you describe the ideal GAUCHERE woman?

The GAUCHERE woman is progressive. She is an active participant in today’s society. “Live and let live” is not just a phrase for her but an attitude towards life. She has her own style and knows what suits her.

Can you tell us about your experience on the NET-A-PORTER Vanguard program?

The experience on the Vanguard program has been truly inspiring. During the mentorship sessions, I had the chance to meet various teams at NET-A-PORTER and discuss essential subjects such as marketing, e-commerce, PR, business development, legislation, social media and user experience, to mention a few.

What has been the highlight so far?

Having NET-A-PORTER, the pioneer of the online luxury market, as a partner is such a prestige to us. It is an important opportunity to grow internationally with such visibility and support. The campaign communication has been extraordinary, so has the constant follow-up and feedback from the teams involved.

What have been your key learnings from the NET-A-PORTER team?

The methodology applied across all teams with clear metrics and KPIs, the innovation, the empowering communication and the excellent training process.

What can we expect to see from GAUCHERE?

Avant-garde and timeless garments inspired by traditional tailoring.

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