Today we’d like to introduce you to Zee Field.
Hi Zee, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I grew up in Paris, France. I am the youngest of 9, 4 girls and 5 boys. Our mother used to make all our clothing as she had been a couturiere (seamstress), and she taught us how to knit, make patterns, sew, and cook some amazing home-cooked French cuisine.
My journey into the world of fashion began back when I was a teenager playing guitar and singing at local nightclubs and cabarets in Paris, such as Le Pied de la Butte – which means “the foot of the hill.” It was literally at the foot of the hill of Montmartre, where the famous Moulin Rouge is located.
I would do odd jobs like being a magician’s assistant, or occasionally a couturiere (seamstress) or photographer. I was basically doing anything that other people would not do for such little money.
That is how I get my first contract from a Parisian businessman who had several stores in the city and
wanted to create his own collection. I can’t say this was a huge success, but it opened my eyes to new opportunities in the world of fashion.
For three years in my late teens, I juggled between a day job in the business, and several other gigs in music, photography, and fashion. During this time, I met the Canadian singer, Edith Butler, and her band. I tagged along with them on a tour in Quebec in the early ’80s and liked the experience so much in Montreal that I decided to move there on a full-time basis – again, doing whatever job possible to support myself, including working at a fish market for a while!
Out of all the odd jobs I did, my passion and heart were always in fashion, so I began to focus my efforts more and started freelancing for different brands.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Not smooth at all, and so… not boring at all.
I learned early in my life to turn obstacles into a positive reason to create, push limits, and believe I can achieve anything I set my mind to.
Good and bad experiences both shape who we are.
It can be scary to start your life from scratch, lose it all, and have to rebuild yourself, sometimes in a different country. And not once, but three times!
But life is supposed to be lived, and it’s fantastic and absolutely necessary to follow your passion, live your dream, deal with challenges and build something meaningful.
The challenges for a new business are time, money, and contacts. Time, because building a business is a 24/7 job. Money, because you probably have to secure an income while building a business. And contacts, because you need to build a network of vendors and clients. It takes a lot of all of these things to build a successful brand!
Really successful entrepreneurs are patient professionals. Here is the typical life cycle of a new business:
Phase 1- the excitement of starting a business lasts anywhere from 6 to 12 months.
Phase 2- reality kicks in, there are bills to pay, your first-year financial review… and it’s not really what you expected.
Phase 3- there are big decisions and even bigger doubts. The struggles of the first three years are testing your ability to move forward. But you know have a clear vision of where the business fits in your niche market.
Phase 4- you learned to walk for three years, and now you are ready to sprint.
Phase 5- congrats! You are still in business!
We’ve been impressed with Profade Apparel and LOULOU DAMOUR, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
I founded Profade Apparel, in 2011, as a company that does development and production for established as well as new brands. The company handles everything from design, technical design, graphics, packaging, and development of a concept to branding, bulk production, and the delivery of the final product to the brand or retailer.
Profade Apparel specializes in clothing and fashion accessories. For the first five years, Profade Apparel built a reputation with our high-quality seamless socks. I could really see a big miss in this category and set it as a first goal to produce the best socks.
Then, I added categories focusing on a niche market, such as board shorts, knit and athletic wear, leggings, and seamless styles.
Over the years, we have helped hundreds of entrepreneurs start their brands while keeping their dream within budget, small or large.
I have been in the fashion industry for thirty-five years, so I really know the business of fashion.
During my time spent overseas, I developed lifelong relationships with factories, as well as the workers of which some would go on to be factory owners years later.
Currently, we have 42 factories in our global network and have developed mutual respect and trust over the years because they see that we truly understood what they do. The relationship, the passion, and the respect for one another are key.
I learned the intricacies of the business by doing every step of the process from A to Z. Most people who start their own business or brand, may have a niche in marketing or design, but it is rare to have someone who has physically done every step of the process themselves from product conception to tech packs, grading, fitting, fabric selections, packaging, delivery, accounting, and marketing.
After having many success stories helping other brands, I decided to create our house designer brand, LOULOU DAMOUR.
The concept and story behind it started to flourish in 2017 and were launched in 2020.
It was a series of life-changing events that turned my attention to this new venture undertaking. I reflected on what life was like for a new immigrant far from home, leaving behind family and friends…
I thought of these amazing souls who had helped, guided, and shaped my life along the way. It was the combination of the loulous of my life who inspired me to alter my path and return to my French roots to breathe life in the LOULOU DAMOUR brand.
LOULOU DAMOUR is about promoting Love, Laughter, and Devotion #LLD
We are at a pivotal point in our society as we know it with all the hatred that has been created by the political divide in this country and around the world. We must seek the goodness in all people and embrace our differences.
We need to stop cruelty, mentally or physically, appreciate what we have, and go back to enjoying the simple pleasures in life.
Do you have recommendations for books, apps, blogs, etc.?
I am a big fan of Masterclass, and also:
Medium
John Garey
Amyk
Davidattenborough
Ourplanet
Nature
White feather
Natgeotravel
Feather Foundation
Contact Info:
- Website: www.louloudamour.com
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/louloudamourbrand/
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/louloudamourbrand/?_ga=2.218430681.1754712198.1651514775-277943006.1636999536
- Youtube: www.youtube.com/channel/UCtfFczcbzALsIFmVCkAtHcQ
Image Credits
LOULOU DAMOUR
