NAME: Nathalie Neuilly
AGE: 34
INSTAGRAM HANDLE: @natneuilly @dressarte
JOB TITLE: Founder, CEO of Dressarte Paris
MOVED TO THE UAE IN: 2019
Nathalie is the founder and CEO of Dressarte Paris, world’s first sustainable online atelier that provides tailoring and styling service to create custom-made clothing, empowering women to dress with confidence and embrace their uniqueness. Dressarte utilises designer surplus fabrics, offers 3D design to reduce waste.
Previously, Nathalie worked as a consultant and auditor for the oil & gas industry in Europe and MENA region. She graduated with honours from Paris Dauphine University with a degree in International Business and Tech Projects, followed by further professional diploma from ENA. She turned her hobby of designing clothes into a fashion-tech startup, one of the companies disrupting the fashion industry and one of the 50 climate tech innovators named by PwC in 2023.
As the name says, Dressarte Paris, was founded in France in Paris in 2017 and HQ in Dubai since 2019. In Dubai Dressarte introduced wedding planning and proposal services in 2022 carrying the mission to make the experiences bespoke, memorable and sustainable.
Let's see a day in Nathalie's world:
8AM:
My day in the life as a slow fashion entrepreneur is often filled with creativity combined with business acumen. Although not a single day is the same, I try to spend the first half an hour after I wake up doing my own morning routine, without checking my emails, social media, etc. It’s always tempting to check the phone first thing in the morning, but I try to be consistent at avoiding this as I feel it helps me be a better person during the day. I feel less anxious, more focused and productive. I might go for a walk, yoga or pilates class, followed by my home-made matcha latte, light breakfast, supplements. I learnt how to make matcha tea properly during my trip in Japan last year, and it’s a kind of meditation for me now. If it’s not with matcha, then you might find me writing down my main goal for the day sipping my favorite hot drink that takes me 1 minute to make: pour hot water over 3 strands of saffron, cloves & organic cinnamon.
10AM:
I review my to-do list and prioritize tasks that need attention. This could involve checking emails, responding to messages from suppliers or clients, and reviewing current orders or inventory updates. I might also catch up with the design team to review sketches for new orders, selecting sustainable fabrics. I usually follow up with the atelier on the order status and discuss future projects. Creating bespoke clothes such as weeding gowns, special occasion dresses are very creative and detail-oriented process that requires being focused.
12NOON:
Quite often I have a business lunch either with my team, clients or partners. Conversations might center around business operations, development, collaborations, sustainability projects, or innovations in eco-friendly fashion. If I have no meetings outside and I wasn’t able to move my body in the morning, I might go for a walk or attend a yoga class. People tend to be surprised when they hear that I do my sport in the middle of the day, but I love it! It’s such a great way to refresh your mind and reconnect with yourself. Ever since I worked in the corporate world, I found it really helped me feel less overwhelmed during the day.
2PM:
I usually spend my afternoon strategizing marketing campaigns. This includes creating content for social media that emphasizes the story behind the garments and educating customers on the benefits of slow fashion. I may also work on a blog post or schedule photo shoots. Since I also run my Youtube channel, I could be busy with planning a video content that shares styling tips, interviews, empowering women to embrace their unique personal style. I might also be out there interviewing guests for my Youtube channel. After launching our wedding planning and proposal services, my afternoon might also include visiting a wedding venue with a team or finalizing layouts for an upcoming event. Making sure that the event is planned with sustainability in mind is crucial for us. So, with our partners, we’ll discuss how to minimize energy use, reduce waste, and use natural elements to enhance the ambiance.
4PM:
I usually catch up on bookkeeping, review invoices, and analyze sales reports. Sustainability-focused grant and competitions applications or partnerships with eco-conscious organizations may also be explored during this time. I might also jump on a call with the operations team.
6PM:
I spend some time on Dressarte social media platforms and my own socials to engage with online community and post content. At the end of the day, I do another round of checking my emails to address any urgent matters and then I try to disconnect. I review my to-do list, tomorrow’s schedule and plan new tasks for the next day.
8PM:
Evenings are reserved for winding down, reflecting on the day whether it's journaling, reading a book or spending time with family. I might cook a dinner or go for a walk with my husband. I love being outside during sunset hours, the weather in Dubai is gorgeous now! We walk for about one-two hours and it’s my favourite evening routine.
10PM:
I love taking an Epsom Salts Bath at least once a week with a book. Otherwise, I might find myself watching interviews focused on well-being and slow living with a cup of camomile tea. Being an entrepreneur, it’s really, really hard to disconnect, so I always try to stick to my late evening routine as it helps me feel more balanced. Before going to bed, I switch on my Himalayan Salt Lamp, spray a little bit of lavender oil. Those are my well-being rituals that help me feel more relaxed and have a better sleep.
Comments