Roubaix. He launched Pour La Paix, his own brand of upcycled and positive ready-to-wear

24 years old and inhabitant of Roubaix always, Kaiss Hamidi embarked on a project very personnel : create a marque from ready to wear with the wish to be environmentally friendly. The one who dreams of more positive world then decided to put his creativity to contribute and act in favor of its principles. He tells us his story.

Create your own path

For Kaiss, creating a ready-to-wear brand was not his first goal. “I had a rather tumultuous path. If I wanted to do a literary baccalaureate, my parents pushed me into the scientific stream and they did well. Then they wanted me to do medicine. But it was not possible for me. I tried STAPS, without being taken, so I went into eco-management,” he recalls.

This step was for him one of the first triggers, but also the beginning of the conflict between him and the courts. “I didn’t like it. One day a teacher came to see me and asked me if I had read the book that was requested. I looked at him, and I said ‘Sorry, but this is the last time you will see me’, then I left for a bachelor’s degree in graphic design and communication”, explains Kaiss.

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But once again, this feeling of being too restrained will quickly frustrate the young student: “This time, it was no longer my parents, but the school that restrained me. I couldn’t express myself. I have skills, I want to do things myself. I then decided to build my own path and set off on a more personal project. »

Make a brand that makes sense

Kaiss Hamidi took the time to take stock of his situation and find out which direction he wanted to take. It was then that he immediately thought of clothes: “Clothes are more and more a means of conveying a message, of expressing oneself, and no longer just to follow fashion”.

The young man then went on a quest for meaning: “I didn’t want to create a simple brand. I always seek to bring good into my life and that of others, to have a positive impact. It was when he woke up one morning that he came up with the idea for the name “Pour la Paix”:

I thought at first that this name came from nowhere. But I later came across an autobiography that I had written when I was younger where I explained that I wanted to do things “for peace with myself”.

If he has always wanted to have a positive impact, clothes are a golden opportunity for him to act on his own scale. “I do upcycling, that is to say that I collect second-hand clothes, I clean them, I remove stains and sew up holes and then I flock the clothes. I try to personalize the packaging a bit too and not just put it in a bag and send the product,” he explains passionately.

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Kaiss Hamidi hopes to go further in creation soon by developing new customizations: “I also hope to be able to embroider elements on clothes, mix textiles and create contrasts in materials and completely transform the garment. »

Avoid ‘fast fashion’

Born from his mind, this project is entirely developed by Kaiss. So much so that he does everything independently. “I do all the steps alone. But I still have people around me who come to give me a little help. I didn’t sew, but fortunately there are always people to help me learn,” he says.

But being alone also imposes a limited work rhythm on him. A blessing in disguise for those who want to avoid impulsive clothing consumption: “The goal is to make limited quantities. I don’t want to go into fast fashion. Getting dressed is important, but not urgent. »

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“Pour la Paix’s clothes are made according to what I find at flea markets. Buyers may not find the exact color or cut. It’s a bit like a treasure hunt, sometimes with good surprises. »

However, Kaiss tries to satisfy as many people as possible: “I’m looking for the in-between with a reasonable quantity so as not to frustrate, but to avoid compulsive purchases. For this first collection, nearly 42 items of clothing were found and restored to be worn again.

If the creator focuses first on his current production, he hopes by September to have enough stability: “I really want to ensure two collections a year. And then we will see if it is also possible to have a physical point of sale, ”he adds.