The brand's products are as fresh and airy as the brand's name. Belle & Toile was created this year by Catherine Isambourg, photographer, renowned sportswoman, and mother of the stunning Eve Isambourg.
The brand's first collection comprises clutches and baskets.
Our "la tant" in raffia is a staple in Mauritian bazaars, but I have never seen it reworked and redesigned so elegantly. The bags are minimalist but oh so chic; key materials include raffia, patent, and leather.
I was also surprised at the range of colours available, tailored to all tastes. So whether you like your colours classic (think dark blue, brown, black, white), arty and loud (neons! metallics!) or if you just want to inject zest in your look (orange, pink to name a few), there's a bag and a colour for you.
La Grande Complice "Belle & Toile" NOSY BE
I am completely in love with Belle & Toile, and so this week on Style Mauritius I interviewed Catherine Isambourg - read on!
I visited 3A's website, and discovered you are a photographer, a renowned sportswoman, and now with Belle & Toile, designer. How and why did you create the brand?
I managed a brand that retailed decorative items in France for twenty years, and I developed their collections. I wanted to go further and create my own brand of fashion accessories and decorative items, to share my products with everyone.
The timing was perfect. I wanted to draw my ideas out, and then use Indian Ocean craftsmanship and artistry to mould the materials and fabrics of my choice into products. This coincided perfectly with my family's arrival in Mauritius!
Belle&Toile was born a couple of months ago, and the products have been distributed in France in June, the day summer officially began (over there, of course!). The collection will broaden as from October: there will be a jewellery line of pieces crafted in silver, pareos, hats...and a collection of decorative accessories in the same spirit, where wood will be very much present.
Le panier Medium "Belle & Toile" BORA BORA
Your bags are all so beautiful, in their freshness, their summer colours. What inspired this collection? Is Belle&Toile's identity solely evocative of summer?
Thank you, Belle & Toile is a lifestyle...
The collection rests on simple and original product lines, in a creative spirit.
I am attracted to natural fabrics, I am passionate about colours, and animated by nostalgia of the 70s and the surfer attitude. My accessories can be worn at the beach or in town, by day or by night., and are to be worn without moderation and in an easy, laid back chic way.
Symbolic and fashionable, my accessories, jewellery line and decorative items all fuse together and are in true harmony. They shall be revealed soon...
Le Mini Panier "Belle & Toile" ST TROPEZ
You have reinvented raffia bags, so common in our bazars, in such an elegant way. I do not believe this has ever been done before - I think your products will be very well-received by Mauritians, but how are they received in France?
The raffia products have been warmly welcomed in France, from the very chic Bora Bora collection to the more fashionable 'Addict' clutches, people like my bags...The zip basket is also very successful! The petticoat bag "Le Cabas Jupon", in natural linen, has been recently added to the website and has seduced quite a few!
My clients are now impatiently waiting for the rest of the collection.
La Pochette Crochet "Belle & Toile"
Where can we find your products other than on your website, http://belleettoile.fr?
I am currently setting up a show room in the West at the start of November, where the whole collection will be available. Some hotels and resellers are already interested by my products.
More information will be given on Belle&Toile's Facebook page very soon.
If you have any queries, you can send me an e-mail at cat.isambourg@gmail.com
xoxo
Alex
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twitter: @stylemauritius / @Alex_W_Isaacs
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