MANDALEY.FR: Camille Andrieux and Éric Fontanini, founders of the HABILE brand

Camille Andrieux and Eric Fontanini, two craftspeople by training, launched the clothing lineHABILEwhich restores theworkwear jacketto its former glory. It was in their showroom in Saint-Cloud, on the outskirts of Paris, thatMandaleywent to meet this couple — partners in life as in work — whose primary aim is to create practical, comfortable, and above all timeless clothing.

Mandaley: Hello Camille and Éric. We're currently in the showroom of the clothing brand Habile. Is this where the pieces are created?

Camille Andrieux: Absolutely. This space is both a showroom and a workshop. This is where we choose fabrics, sketch the designs, make the prototypes and do photo shoots. It's a workshop, a working space that allows us to both create pieces and welcome clients.

Mandaley: Have you always been immersed in the world of fashion, or did you have different paths beforeHABILE?

Eric Fontanini: We had very different paths, at least in my case. I went to hotel school at 16. Camille, for her part, did her fashion baccalaureate before becoming a stylist, notably at Marc Jacobs and Alexander McQueen. Our paths were diametrically opposed — it was our shared values that brought us together. I always wanted to cook. I started atGuy SavoyandAlain Ducassein Paris, then left for the United States, Ibiza, Uruguay, before coming back to the capital in 2012 to work as head chef at thePalais Royal Restaurant. When I met Camille, about 5 years ago, we decided to start a consulting firm together. Today, alongside HABILE, I continue to create menus, including for the restaurant Merci in Paris.

Mandaley: How did the concept for the HABILE clothing brand come about? Why did you want to bring the work jacket back into fashion?

Camille Andrieux: When we met, Eric was looking for kitchen aprons that were a little different from what he saw in restaurants. He wanted to create something beautiful, but also useful and practical. That's where the idea of launching the Habile clothing brand came from. We had a real desire to build a project together, something that strongly represented who we are.

Eric Fontanini: The idea was to bring our two worlds together — the chef's and the stylist's. On the first moodboard, we ditched the white of kitchen jackets and put blue everywhere: photos from the 1920s–30s of workers building New York, old uniforms, work jackets… Camille and I share the same values: a love of craft, drive, passion, durability and functionality. We wanted to translate all of that into the Habile pieces, and create clothes that others don't make. We chose a simple approach: staying discreet while serving those values, without following trends. Creating timeless pieces that we would make modern. Working on the details — the cut in particular — without altering the shape of the garment.

Camille Andrieux: Exactly. HABILE is above all a unisex brand, with adjustable styles so that everyone can wear it. We used cotton canvas with natural pigments, replaced buttons with press studs, and opted for reversible seams. All of it in a simple, practical spirit.

Mandaley: What is the manufacturing process for HABILE garments?

Camille Andrieux: We start by putting together a technical file in the showroom, then send the patterns, drawings and inspiration moodboards to a factory in Portugal. It's a family-run factory specialising in finished products — they source their own material, 100% Portuguese cotton, dye it, print it, then cut and assemble the pieces. We make back-and-forth trips to Portugal to check the pieces and develop the hardware with them. Unlike others, we don't buy our raw materials from China. We prefer to stay in Europe. It keeps costs down, maintains traceability and avoids long-distance travel.

Mandaley: In the near future, do you plan to manufacture your pieces entirely in France?

Camille Andrieux and Eric Fontanini: The problem is that cotton canvas and denim workers are becoming hard to find in Paris and the greater Paris region. France no longer has large industries producing jeans, overalls or shoes — only companies making underwear or socks locally. We could have produced our pieces abroad, then had the press studs made in France and claimed our clothes were "Made in France," but that's not HABILE's philosophy. We preferred to trust people who master quality and craftsmanship, in order to offer the best possible products and be transparent with consumers.

Mandaley: Why did you decide to present only 5 pieces for this collection? Do you have another collection planned for next season?

Camille Andrieux: It was first and foremost a strategic question. We wanted to create a few signature pieces so that customers would immediately understand who we are. We chose to design pieces with a strong image and settled on five, as that felt like the right balance between too many and too few. Today we have accessory pieces (the tool pouch and the bandana) and statement pieces (the work jacket, the apron, the shirt), together making up a complete "Habile" look. They are also pieces that stand on their own. We start from a core of five pieces, which we build on gradually — not according to seasons. The idea is to add layers, to create a coherent story that lets us move through our collection, with pieces that will always revolve around Habile and stand the test of time.

Mandaley: What does luxury mean to you?

Eric Fontanini: For me, luxury is synonymous with freedom and independence. Luxury is the ability to choose. When you don't choose, you simply endure.
Camille Andrieux: I see luxury differently. To me, luxury means unique pieces made by people with an exceptional gift. Pieces crafted from noble materials, by hand, as in the great French houses.

Mandaley: Let's talk about travel now… When was your last trip? Where did you go?

Camille Andrieux: Last summer, in Seoul, South Korea. We spent ten days there, four of them in a temple tucked away in the mountains — the perfect place for a digital detox! We learned to serve tea, pray, meditate, breathe…

Mandaley: What is your favourite place in the world?

Camille Andrieux: In the south of France, in Lourmarin, a quiet little village where I feel at home. I go there roughly every year, to recharge and clear my head.

Eric Fontanini: For me, it was José Ignacio, in the seaside town of Punta del Este in Uruguay — a peninsula that feels like the edge of the world. When I lived there, I loved just sitting, with its endless dunes stretching out on one side and the expanse of salt water on the other.

Mandaley: Finally, what is your miracle remedy for jet lag?

Camille Andrieux: I drink a lot of water, and I never eat on the plane — especially on the way back.

Eric Fontanini: We try to time our meals around arrival schedules so we're not too out of sync. And you shouldn't hesitate to stay awake if it's not yet bedtime.

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