ELLES are the ones who matter without needing to say it with words.

The ones with whom you laugh louder, sometimes too loud.

The ones with whom you want to share sacred moments.

THE SPARKLING

ANAÏS

PORTRAIT

Anaïs from the Instagram account @nissoubidou, and Seb (the one who shares her life), answer questions from the brunettes' office.

I love sewing for others; it's probably my way,

a bit shy, of saying "I love you." 

SHE

How would you describe yourself in three words?

Messy to the core, dreamy... and almost absent-minded.


What gets you going in the morning when you wake up?

I sleep in my living room/dining room/studio, and my sewing machine calls to me as soon as I wake up, but I have to wait until evening to answer it when I still have the energy after my workday.

 

What makes you smile unexpectedly, the kind of smile you can't control?

The details that few people notice, like an elderly couple holding hands in the street, a look filled with love...

There's a part of you that few people know about. What is it?

I have a superpower... I'm highly sensitive, and I try to make it a strength, even if it's not always easy.

Seb, can you introduce Anaïs as you see her?

Anaïs is very radiant, gentle, caring, and sensitive. She is bubbly, ultra-creative, and has a unique world all her own; her joy for life is so contagious. I admire her greatly for her resilience during difficult times. She is always up for our creative whims or for jetting off to discover other cultures. I wish everyone could find their own Anaïs!

YOUR WORLD

Describe the place where you feel most like yourself.

In my small, colorful, lively, imperfect (#messy) cocoon that I created for my daughter June, myself, and Brad Pitt (our cat).

 

What shaped you into who you are today?

Life, quite simply. The challenges, the encounters. My parents, of course, but also my partner, who sharpened my eye, my attention to detail, my exacting standards. He's a graphic designer by profession and a passionate and talented photographer. I learn an enormous amount by his side, whether it's in photography (a passion we share), gaining self-confidence, or putting certain things into perspective…


Was there a moment, an encounter, a turning point that changed everything?

Separating from my daughter's father was a trigger in building the woman I am today. I felt liberated; I was able to create a new, hyper-colorful cocoon in my own image. I wanted a place where we both felt good, even though, at first, it wasn't easy to manage everything alone. Then there was that encounter, with my partner, which changed my life. Today, I feel fulfilled.

What object represents you?

A seam ripper, to stay with the sewing theme. I'm a bit scatterbrained and I use and abuse it.

 

Do you have a quirk, a ritual, a little habit you wouldn't change for anything?

Looking up and admiring the clouds. And I'm lucky enough to have a beautiful clear view and be able to watch incredible sunsets from my bedroom/living room/dining room/studio window.

 

Your colorful feed fully reflects your personality, and transports us with each discovery. Where does this strong universe come from? This sense of detail? This taste for color and print?

I've always been used to wearing color – 90's baby! My hypersensitivity also greatly feeds my creativity. And as for my visual identity, my man has a lot to do with it. I tell him about my projects and we imagine the staging, the locations together... often during our travels. I love traveling with one or more creations that I prepare for the occasion and that we can highlight. 

I've always been used to wearing color – 90's baby! My hypersensitivity also greatly fuels my creativity.

THE WOMEN IN YOUR LIFE

Which woman, consciously or unconsciously, helped shape who you are today?

My mother, without hesitation.

She shaped me as a woman.

She's also a passionate woman, but about cooking, to the delight of our taste buds.

And my grandmother, to whom I owe my passion for sewing.

Is there a specific memory with her that often comes to mind?

Our mother-daughter moments, which have become precious because they are rarer since I became a mother myself.

Is there a woman you've never truly told what she means to you?

Always my mom. I don't tell her enough that I love her, or how incredible she is.

She has always been there for me, especially in difficult times, and she helps me enormously in my life as a single mom. So thank you to her.

ELLES, BY ATELIER BRUNETTE

When you hear "sew for them, with them, thinking of them," who immediately comes to mind?

My daughter immediately comes to mind. We choose the patterns and fabrics together. For now, she hasn't caught the sewing bug yet... but I'm hopeful! But also, all the women in my life: my mom, my mother-in-law (yes, yes, I adore her), my friends…

 

To whom would you offer the piece you sewed, and what would it symbolize?

To my daughter or my mother. I love sewing for others; it's probably my slightly shy way of saying "I love you." Because I sew as I speak little: with my heart.

Seb, has Anaïs ever sewn for you? What is her best project? The one that means the most to you?

Yes! I'm a big fan of oversized hoodies, and she's made several for me. She always adds her own creative touch (adding drawstrings made from sneaker laces, customising with a logo we created together...). She also made me a fanny pack out of gabardine using a pattern she created herself. The inside of the fanny pack, lined with fabric featuring patterns from the movie Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, always makes an impression when opened!

Thanks to this lovely sewing community on Insta, I’ve been able to form real bonds with some of them who are now close friends.

SEWING AS A LANGUAGE

The first time you sewed something, who or what was it for?

The first thing I sewed, as far as I remember, was a dress for myself. At the time, sewing didn't take up as much space in my life. I started doing it assiduously and passionately when my daughter was born.

 

Do you sew alone, or do you enjoy sharing these moments? What's different about creating together?

I sew alone very often, but I love sharing it with my friends. We've had quite a few memorable sewing weekends, "squatting" at my parents' house.

We even used to set up in the garden to sew! I think it's so great to share a passion with friends, to exchange our "close enough" tips...


What do you feel when you create?

A sense of calm. I'm in my bubble, far from everything except my seam ripper.

 

If you had to sew a piece for the person you love most right now, what would you want to tell them through this garment?

To show them how much, "straight or zigzag," I care about them.

You have seamstress friends in your life. How do you get together, how do you share?

Oh yes, I have my "COUDpines" gang." I already had friends who loved sewing before Instagram, but thanks to this wonderful sewing community on Insta, I've been able to build real connections with some of them who are now close friends. For those who are local, we meet up for exhibitions in Paris and to take photos of our creations. For those further away, we meet annually at the DIY show at Porte de Versailles or during an organized weekend.

 

Do you ever collaborate, creating a sewing project with several people? What is it like to see something come to life that way?

I love projects with two, three people... We exchange a lot, share our current inspirations, imagine projects together, we each sew on our own but then meet up to shoot our creations... it's a real collective energy.

 

What is your most cherished memory of a shared sewing moment?

Well, it's not a shared sewing moment, but rather the photo part. These are often great moments where we laugh a lot, looking for improbable poses under the amused gaze of passers-by, who sometimes even join in the photos.

PASSION, ORIGIN

Where does this passion for sewing come from? Is there a story behind it?

I've always loved creating: painting, jewelry, knitting, crochet… I naturally became passionate about sewing after trying it.

The idea of being able to create my own clothes appealed to me, and being tall, I was tired of having sleeves that were too short.

I could finally have the freedom to adjust clothes to my size!

 

How did you learn to sew? And what did you really learn, beyond the technical gesture?

As a self-taught individual, with the valuable advice of my grandmother.

Beyond the technique, I learned patience, rigor… and to accept imperfection. #detailoriented

 

Is there a woman, a person, who passed something on to you through sewing, consciously or unconsciously?

Yes. My great-grandmother, a professional seamstress, made wedding dresses, and my grandmother sewed for the whole family… I think it runs in my blood.

What were the immediate benefits that sewing offered you?

Serenity. And that unique feeling of wearing something I created myself. It's incredibly rewarding.

EMOTION, REIMAGINED

Is there anything you have created or made with your own hands that carried a particular intention?

Not necessarily… other than bringing joy or a smile with my "failed" tutorials on Insta.

 

What touches you deeply?

Many things. Thank you, hypersensitivity!

 

How do you choose each sewing project?

On a whim. A pattern, a fabric… then I look for the perfect match between the two.

Thank you, Anaïs, for opening the doors to your unique, colorful, and sensitive world.

Through your words, we discovered an instinctive and vibrant approach to sewing, full of emotions, transmission, connections, and freedom.

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