Created by KEDGE Alumna, Les Poulettes is bringing "abs" and "apero" together!

After doing an HEC prep programme, I joined KEDGE Bordeaux in 2013. During my second year, I chose to specialise in marketing and communication. I also had the chance to be president of the Arts Bureau and to teach a ragga dancehall for a year. During my gap year, I did a six month internship in Miami at a bathing suit showroom. I am passionate about fashion, and this professional experience taught me a lot. I worked closely with the designers to define their brand universe. I often participated in photo shoots for major American magazines, and had the chance to work with renown designers and stylists. Following this incredible experience in the fashion industry, I wanted to create my own company. I wanted to deepen my knowledge and learn how a start-up works before I decided to go for it, I did an end of studies internship in a company that sold women's and men's clothes on the internet. The brand was created seven years previously and was growing rapidly. The two founders were real mentors for me and always took the time to explain how their company worked. After working in the start-up for six months, it was time for me to embark on the incredible adventure that is entrepreneurship. 

 

 

 

Ever since prep school, I decided to create my own company. Over the years, and throughout my experiences, I realised that I wanted to work in the fashion industry. I have also been passionate about fitness for the past three years, and realised that the clothing options offered by major brands aren't very original or feminine. But I also realised that women had trouble recognising themselves in brands that are too focused on performance and demands. That is where I got the idea to create a sports brand that answers women's needs. After doing an exchange programme in India, I was deeply touched by poverty and child labor. For ethical, environmental, and social reasons, I decided it was better to have the clothes made in France rather than abroad. In addition to a guarantee of quality, the fact that the products are made in France guarantees full transparency on the working conditions of all of the actors in the production chain. Les Poulettes Fitness is therefore a sports brand that is 100% made in France for all women who think that "abs" and "apéro" go together. A strange combination you might say! And yet, at Les Poulettes Fitness, we are convinced that we can feel good in our heads and in our leggings, you have to do regular physical activity but you also have to enjoy life's little pleasures from time to time.  

 

In March 2017, I partnered with a long time friend, who also went to business school, to launch this wonderful project. In less than six months, Les Poulettes Fitness was created. We developed the concept while we were doing our end of studies internships. Since July 2017, the company has been registered and are clothes are currently being produced in the South-East of France. In order to limit or carbon imprint, our clothes travel less than 800 km during the fabrication process. In October 2017, we launched a crowdfunding campaign on the KISS KISS BANK BANK platform in order to help us finance part of the production. In less than 10 days we reached our objective.

 

In a near future, we hope to benefit from a fundraising operation, in order to develop the first fitness clothing brand that is 100% made in France and associates sports with life's little pleasures in France. Afterwards, we would like to develop our concept internationally, in order to contribute helping our country shine abroad. The Holy Grail would be for us to develop physical boutiques in France and abroad. 

 

 

During my time at KEDGE, I has the pleasure and honour of being President of a list and then the Bureau des Arts. Being at the head of an association, is like being at the head of a company. This experience taught me a lot and confirmed my idea idea that I wanted to create my own company. The association experience in business school was, for me, an additional learning experience, on top of the classes being offered. 

 

Keep going! Follow your heart, your intuition, and give your self the tools to succeed. Creating a company entails a lot of sacrifices, but it is with it. If you are an entrepreneur in your soul: go for it! Follow your ideas all the way through. 

 

 

My message is for women: unfortunately, we still live in a world that pushes for a perfect body. However, that perfect body doesn't exist. All women are beautiful and it is their little flaws that make them unique and so beautiful to others. So, ladies, stop torturing yourselves, enjoy life, work out, and don't be afraid to have confidence in yourselves! Liberty, equality and leggings for all!