Thanks to the Africa Fashion Tour podcast, presented by Ramata Diallo, discover the unique and sensitive adventure of our creator, Jessica Solomon. Here, she recounts her arrival in Madagascar, her immersion in the local culture, and her experience in the world of luxury in France. Discover how she combined these elements to found Seconde Main, a meaningful project that values everyone’s creativity and sees forgotten materials as a creative palette.
TEXTE : Ramata Diallo - IMAGES : Amély Daniel, Agathe Boudin, Caroline Audric, Mialy Razafintsalama
“Heading to Madagascar island to discover Jessica Solomon’s atypical profile. Trained as a designer, it was after responding to an offer on the Fashion Network website that she flew to Antananarivo. She worked for a textile manufacturer serving luxury houses. A few years later, she decided to create her own brand.
It’s the story of that brand and her ambition to promote local savoir-faire that she tells me in this one-hour interview. She had never traveled to Africa before this very first trip in 2017. Since then, she has opened her atelier and is developing her Seconde Main brand locally, with sales between Paris and Antananarivo. Her unique concept is to create genuine collections from second-hand clothes imported from Europe. You’ll love this gentle episode celebrating diversity and collaboration.
I’d like to take this opportunity to thank the growing number of listeners to this podcast.
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Ramata Diallo –
Jessica Solomon has studied fashion design at the Chambre syndicale de la Couture Parisienne. She developed skills in pattern-making, sewing and styling. And her thirst for creativity quickly led her to design. This enabled her to express her talent while understanding the ins and outs of garment manufacturing.
Through her first experience at a Haute Couture Maison in Paris, she worked on spectacular projects combining embroidery and sculptural elements. Later, Jessica broadened her horizons by collaborating with international suppliers. These experiences were decisive in her understanding of craftsmanship and techniques from all over the world. Jessica’s adventure in Madagascar began in 2017, when her expertise was called upon
by a French luxury factory operating in the island.
Jessica took this opportunity to open a creative unit within the factory. She set up a creative studio dedicated to researching samples and innovations. For four years, she led a team of graphic designers, embroiderers and other local creative talents.
She regularly collaborated with international luxury brands on various projects.
This experience enabled Jessica to connect different brand universes, explore different positioning and deliver creative innovations. Her role as orchestral conductor within this creative ecosystem reinforced her belief in the power of collaboration and diversity in the creative process.
After years of discovering life on Madagascar island, Jessica felt the need to create something new and more personal. It was then that she decided to settle in Madagascar for personal and professional reasons, and founded her own brand. She set up a creative workshop with an eco-responsible approach. Jessica is interested in second-hand clothing and implements genuine upcycling techniques. She transforms second-hand clothes into unique pieces.
In her atelier, Jessica and her team are dedicated to true upcycling, far from the simple end of rolls. They reclaim the finest materials, transforming them with passion to create unique, sustainable pieces. Jessica’s approach goes beyond simply creating clothes; it’s a celebration of local savoir-faire, a connection with the community, and a call for a more sustainable fashion.
Jessica Solomon embodies the very essence of a committed and passionate designer. Her unique background and innovative vision reflect a deep understanding of fashion as a cultural and sociological language. As fashion continues to evolve, Jessica, with her atelier in Madagascar, offers a fresh perspective, proving that creativity can be both a source of inspiration and a driver of positive change.
Thank you to Ramata Diallo for this blog post, and of course, think about listening and sharing the podcast and discovering the other designers highlighted via AFRICA FASHION TOUR !
Some useful links :
Link to the podcast : here
Link to the blog post : here
Link to Africa Fashion Tour website : here
TEXTE : Ramata Diallo - IMAGES : Amély Daniel, Agathe Boudin, Caroline Audric, Mialy Razafintsalama