To honour Women's Day, Adapta would like to present and highlight the work of several independent and passionate women. Three of our loyal customers kindly agreed to answer a few questions.
[Maria Karunagaran, founder of Maison Felger].
Maison Felger, an innovative, elegant shoe brand made in France.
What's your background in a few words?
Maria Karunagaran, 29 years old, born in the Paris region.
My lifelong passions are the world of luxury, anthropology and entrepreneurship.
After studying languages at the Sorbonne and a Master's in Marketing at PSB (business school), it was at the age of 23 that I took my first steps in the world of footwear. I was in charge of the European customer portfolio of a major shoe manufacturer in India, and it was there that I learned all the secrets of manufacturing.
I was lucky enough to work with a self-made man who learnt everything on his own - the best apprenticeship for me! And it was while my husband and I were planning my wedding that we came up with the idea of creating an innovative brand that would finally meet the expectations of the market: who hasn't had trouble finding the right shoe?
That's why we decided to give birth to R&K (now Maison Felger) in 2017 and to reinterpret the savoir-faire of excellence in footwear by infusing it with technology, all Made in France.
What is your role at Maison Felger?
I am the founder of Maison Felger. I created the brand from scratch, imagining the world in which customers could travel, the experience, the quality and the design of the products. In general, my role is to guide the vision - more or less long-term - of the brand. I'm a bit like the conductor of the whole project, I have a vision that I pass on to the team, we discuss it and work together to make it as realistic and achievable as possible. In practice, I'm really involved in everything: I prepare the collections with the designers and the design office, I supervise the marketing and sales activities, and I also work on the management of the company, recruitment and so on. It's a real multi-tasking job.
As a woman, what challenges do you face in the world of manufacturing? How do you manage to impose yourself in this male-dominated sector?
This question may seem harmless at first, but there's no denying that it's sometimes difficult to assert yourself as a woman in a sector dominated by men. Maybe it's sad to say, but you get used to it, or at least you find ways of asserting yourself as a woman in this environment. Often, when I go out to meet my suppliers, collaborators or other contractors, I'm accompanied either by my trainees or my husband (who's also a partner) and it's not unusual for my male contacts to naturally turn to my husband, assuming that he's the founder of the brand. It's not uncommon for my work experience students or colleagues to be mistaken for the CEO and for me to be mistaken for the trainee...
You end up adopting certain mechanisms, for example, when I arrive for a meeting I always speak first and I adopt a fairly confident tone, I make sure that I look the people I'm talking to in the eye, etc. It's these kinds of little details that help me to make the right choices. It's these kinds of small details that make all the difference, it's almost animal-like really: the first few seconds count enormously. What's more, I've learnt to be a lot more confident and I impose my style. In the same way, I make absolutely no attempt to hide the fact that I'm a woman, I fully accept it.
What advice would you give to a woman business owner in 2021?
KEEP GOING - KEEP GOING - KEEP GOING
Believe in yourself, in your dreams, in your intuition! If you think you're capable of doing something, don't let others tell you otherwise.
Being a woman entrepreneur in 2021 is certainly not easy, but it's not as easy as it was a few decades ago, so go for it! There's help and support out there, and there are structures, associations and groups that can help you find synergy and support. And above all, it's very important to surround yourself with the right people: partners, employees, spouses, friends - in the final analysis, this is the hard core that will be there to support you through the good times and the bad.
Why do you work with Adapta? What do you like about this type of sourcing?
We turned to Adapta because the company's overall approach is in line with what we're doing at Maison Felger: circular economy, short, well-thought-out supply chains, low environmental impact, use of dead stock leathers so there's no polluting creation. With this type of sourcing, we can be sure of being able to guarantee quality leather to our customers, because it comes from very reputable companies. What's more, we can easily trace the origin of each leather we choose, so everything is transparent, which is great!
Crédits photos: Marc Dimitrov
[Florence Bouillaux, self-employed leather goods designer].
What's your background in a few words?
My initial training was also in manual skills, as I took a technical course to learn all the different stages involved in making a garment, from artistic and technical design, to moulding on a mannequin, grading and finally machine stitching.
As soon as I graduated, I was lucky enough to join Bonpoint, a luxury brand for children.
For the first few years, I was very close to the product, but as time went by and I progressed, my job as product manager no longer gave me much opportunity to work with my hands; it was more a question of negotiating prices and managing schedules - and all from behind a computer!
At the dawn of my fifties, I wanted to give some meaning back to my work, so I decided to take a training course at La Fabrique to obtain a CAP in leather goods.
What motivated you to set up your own business?
There weren't really any motivations as such. It was more a matter of circumstance; just after I graduated from La Fabrique, I was offered a coworking space, which I accepted, and the combination of skills enabled me to continue to improve my skills. Unfortunately, the health crisis was not conducive to hiring, even though I did manage to get a few contracts... So I decided to set up my own home workshop so that I could continue to fulfil a few orders and work as a self-employed tinkerer. But don't get me wrong, I'm actively looking for a salaried position!
As a woman, what difficulties have you faced during your career?
To be honest, the textile industry is predominantly female and I've never encountered any problems. Without realising it, I think that during certain meetings or meetings with suppliers, that was a plus.
The leather goods industry is more mixed, so time will tell!
What advice would you give to a woman considering a career change?
If possible, carry out a skills assessment, which will bring out all your strong points, because after several years you don't really know where you stand any more. If your skills assessment is good, you'll be well on your way.
You have to realise that you're moving on to another professional life, and you have to be ready for that!
Crédits photos: Alex Krassovsky
[Emmanuelle Aubert, founder of EMM Maroquinerie]
EMM, upcycled leather goods made in France
What's your background in a few words?
With a degree from a business school and a lifelong passion for design and craftsmanship, I began my career as a buyer and production manager in the ready-to-wear sector in France and abroad.
Then I wanted to realise my professional project: the creation of my own brand of leather goods, the designs of which I would make myself.
I spent several months immersed in a cobbler's workshop and trained with a leatherworker, before setting up my own workshop in Marseille and finally realising my project. Sensitive to environmental issues, I rigorously select my leathers from the unused stocks of the major French luxury houses and offcuts from European tanneries.
What motivated you to set up your own business?
After the birth of my son, I felt the need to get back to creating and working with my hands. I wanted to create a world where beauty and eco-responsibility went hand in hand, and where I could control the manufacture of my products from A to Z.
How do you combine creativity and femininity in your collections?
Product design is very important to me, because I think it says a lot about creativity. Creativity is put to the test in design when you're trying to find technical and visual solutions.
Femininity is also expressed in the contours of my products, in a curve, in a finish, in the jewellery... The leather we choose also conveys this femininity.
Which women inspire your designs?
There are many women who inspire my designs! Artists inspire me a lot. Generally speaking, I'd say women who are free and take responsibility for their choices.
Why do you work with Adapta? What do you like about this type of sourcing?
For the quality of the leathers, the grain of the skins, the exceptional finishes and the choice that's often renewed thanks to the Exclusive Sales.
I like this type of sourcing because every time I visit your site or pay you a visit it's a bit like hunting for treasures. I know the quality of your items and their finish, and it's a new discovery every time.
I love the fact that these skins can be given a second life and that they will enhance my items.
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