Award-winning children’s designer Stephanie Lemaire is a traditionalist at heart. Children should look like children, and not mini adults, says the mum-of-three behind Chateau de Sable.
How did you become a designer of kids’ clothes?
When I was growing up, my parents and grandparents owned a garment factory, so I’ve never known a time when I haven’t been surrounded by fabrics, clothes and designs. It’s like second nature to me. I went on and trained as a fashion designer, but it was after the birth of my first child, that I began to design clothes for children.
So, it was parenthood that inspired you?
You could say that. I think it was more about the fact that I couldn’t find the kinds of clothes I felt were right for my child. I have quite strong views when it comes to dressing children. I don’t think they should be dressed as mini adults, and a lot of clothes on the market are simply scaled down versions of grown-up fashions.
Tell us more about the ethos behind the label
I really believe that the clothes children wear should reflect their simplicity and innocence. I’m also very concerned about the fact that fabrics are pure and organic. In fact, all my clothes are made from materials sourced from organic, fair trade origins. These days we’re seeing so many more incidences of allergies and skin problems among children, and I believe this could have something to do with the fact that we are surrounding them with chemicals in their environment. Fabrics that have been naturally sourced and treated are going to be kinder to young, baby skins.
Doesn’t that make your costs go up?
Obviously, it is more expensive, but you can see from the prices in our collections that our clothes, while designer, are far from unaffordable. I have three children myself, so I know that being a parent is an expensive business. The last thing I’d want would be for a mum to only be able to afford say, one item from my collection. Most items in the collection are priced between Dhs100 to Dhs200, which is not excessive for something that’s premium quality.
Your store in Abu Dhabi has done so well that you’re opening up another in Dubai Mall. How do you manage to juggle motherhood and work?
I have an amazingly supportive team, and the newest outlet in Dubai Mall will actually be our 27th store! So yes, I am very busy. In terms of juggling work and family life, as every mother knows, it’s not easy. My family will always be number one, and I fit my days around them. I work while they are at school, spend the afternoons with them, and then often work late into the night after they’ve gone to bed. It’s not always easy, but it’s definitely worth it.
How involved are you with the production side of things?
Thankfully, I am still very hands on, and it’s not always easy to do that once a business has got bigger, but I make it a priority. My team enables me to keep a very close eye on the quality of our products. I also still test all our designs on my own children first. For me, the fit has to be comfortable, the fabric has to be soft and practical, and the general look should be unfussy.
What’s your favourite item of clothing to design?
I love to design dresses. They are so simple, yet with a few clever changes, you can transform the entire look. I think they are very practical for little girls, too. We really do put so much effort into creating new looks. I actually find dresses a wonderful garment to experiment with in terms of creativity.
For more information, visit Chateau de Sable in Al Wahda Mall, www.chateaudesable.com (02 443 9683)
