Each ARCHIBEL piece is designed in Guadeloupe, inspired by the colors, landscapes, and atmosphere of the archipelago.
The cuts are designed to be feminine and enhance the body, with particular attention paid to details and finishes.
Before a swimsuit reaches its final version, several steps are necessary: initial sketches, fabric selection, prototype creation, fittings — many fittings and adjustments. The cuts were modified numerous times until I achieved the drape, support, and look I was seeking.
A workshop I found in Bali
Finding the workshop I wanted to work with was one of the longest steps in the project.
For nearly eight months, I researched and spoke with many manufacturers before finding the one that truly matched what I was looking for.
It was finally during a solo road trip in Indonesia that I met the team I work with today. I was able to visit their workshop in Bali, discover their expertise, choose fabrics, and understand the different stages of production.
It was important for me to know where and how the swimsuits would be made, but also to meet the people who make them.
Human-scale production
The creation of a swimsuit involves many steps and several hours of work. A large part is done by hand.
The workshop also works with individuals who complete certain manufacturing steps from their homes, especially when they cannot commute to the workshop daily.
The different pieces are then brought together at the workshop for finalization and quality control.
Small Batch, Attentive Tracking
Once manufacturing is complete, each jersey is individually inspected before leaving the workshop.
We deliberately produce in small batches to maintain human-scale production, closely monitor the different stages, and offer limited-quantity collections.
Subjects
The materials are chosen for their feel, drape, colors, and how they look when worn.
I wanted to prioritize recycled and certified fabrics as much as possible, which are used in some ARCHIBEL models. Some materials are also sourced locally in Bali when their finishes better match the desired aesthetic, particularly for our satin fabrics.
Each material is thus chosen according to the model, its cut, and the desired effect.
From the initial idea sketched in Guadeloupe
to the final check in the workshop, each swimsuit goes through many stages and several hands before joining the ARCHIBEL collection.