Today we’d like to introduce you to Tarik Koivisto

Hi Tarik, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.

With over 25 years of experience designing brands, I launched a brand of my own to combine all of my passions. The Luxe Provence slow fashion collection launched in 2017. I was a late blooming fashion designer in my 40’s and a pioneer in the “slowfashion” movement, which was as part of the brand’s promise from the onset, reflecting local production values, sustainable materials and high quality French savoir-faire. My limited edition, slow fashion collections are ethically Made in France with the finest artists, ateliers and couturières in the region.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?

No! I am not sure you could ever find an entrepreneur who has had a smooth ride. It is definitely a rollercoaster and a lot of hard work, sacrifice. It has a financial sacrifice, not paying myself for years, as I boot-strapped my production with some innovative strategies including a subscription model, and pre-order sales, which also allows me to produce sustainably. Covid threw a major curveball when my brand was at a very high point, cutting my production completely from one day to the next, when the French government took over my atelier to produce gowns and masks for the hospitals. Supply chain shortages, from little items as elastic, during the Covid years and sudden closed international borders also made shipping internationally to stockists a huge stress.

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?

I believe I am best at creating and building brands that communicate my vision and reflect a place and touch an emotion. I am proud to have built the Luxe Provence brand from the ground up and handle every aspect from fashion design, photography, branding, graphic design to all social media. I love being able to have an idea and and see it full realized from a design to styling and taking the final photograph, to launching the complete collection.

What was your favorite childhood memory?

When my grandmother would sew clothes for us based upon the fabrics I selected! It was so exciting and inspired my love of fashion and desire to create Luxe Provence.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.luxe-provence.shop
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/luxeprovence
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/luxeprovence

Image Credits

Photographer: Tarik Koivisto, Model: Emma Houvanagel