Interview with Julie, KEDGE graduate and founder of Maison Madame A, an eco-responsible and ethical lingerie brand!

After receiving her degree from KEDGE, Julie decided to start her professional career as a sales representative at Santiane.fr, an insurance broker. She then went on to become in charge of recruitment officer for the sales department, then assistant manager of a team, and finally Head of the Paris sales team.

After three great years, she decided to leave the company and move to an English-speaking environment. "I moved to Sydney and immediately started working for an event management company that provides support for musical productions and tours in Australia and New Zealand. I managed the backstage team at concerts. That’s when the concept of my entrepreneurial project developed. I decided to work on my idea while still employed. And it was from Sydney that I found the partners with whom I ended up developing my first line of lingerie.”

She then founded her workshop in Bali, Indonesia. For logistical reasons, she decided to travel to Bali to work with the Balinese craftspeople on prototypes and production. The beauty of the island, the friendliness of the Balinese, and the gentle way of life made her forget where she came from, and she ended up settling there permanently.

“Designed by a woman, for women, Maison Madame A encourages you to view your body with love and tenderness. We are driven by one ambition: to exalt beauty and make your everyday life a pleasant and delicate adventure” - Julie Antunes, Founder of Maison Madame A.

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INTERVIEW - JULIE ANTUNES

To begin, tell us about your educational background and your time at KEDGE. 

Originally from the Grand-Est region, I wanted to leave my comfort zone and do a Master. That's why I enrolled in a business school located in a region of France that was unknown to me. I fell in love with KEDGE when I went to the campus to do my oral exams. The incredible campus, the welcome by the student association in charge of organising the orals, and the customised courses quickly convinced me that it was the right place for me.

LINKEDIN - JULIE ANTUNES

How did the education you received at KEDGE Business School help you become who you are today and how did its teachings help you develop your business?

What I loved about KEDGE was the flexibility of the curriculum for each student and the inclusion of career-related experiences. This meant that I was able to do three different internships over three years. It was a real opportunity for me! I was able to test myself, try out different company structures, and start my career in an environment and sector that completely suited me. I also think that being involved in student associations through a Pro-Act was also a great asset for me.

Tell us about Maison Madame A.

Maison Madame A. is a brand of lingerie and loungewear for women which is 100% eco-responsible and ethical. Designed by a woman, for women, Maison Madame A is an invitation to consider your body with love and tenderness, and encourages you to view your body with love and tenderness. We are driven by one ambition: to exalt beauty and make your everyday life a pleasant and delicate adventure.

100% eco-responsible and ethical, our products are manufactured in Bali. Each piece is made by hand, thereby supporting local artisans.

Since 2020, we've used dyes that are vegetable-based and eco-responsible, which means they are safe for your body and the environment. They are therefore safe for your body and for the environment. All the materials we use are vegetable and eco-responsible. Our new collection on kickstarter.com lets you discover our company is made of CUPRO: a vegan silk made from regenerated and recycled cotton.

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What are your goals for the future?

Right now, we are focused on our crowd-funding campaign through Kickstarter, which started on 14 September and ends on 14 October. Finger crossed. If this campaign is successful, we will be able to launch a new line of eco-responsible lingerie, produced and hand-dyed by our Balinese partner artisans.

What advice would you give to young entrepreneurs who would like to do something similar?

Don't be afraid of making mistakes or failing. In fact, it was through my failures, mistakes, and obstacles that I learned and grew the most. Those types of experiences also allow us to acquire greater resilience! I think that being an entrepreneur also means that you learn to reinvent yourself, your business model, and the way you conduct business, if necessary. 

Follow Maison Madame A on social networks:

• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/maisonmadamea/ 
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/maisonmadamea/ 
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/maisonmadamea/ 

Contractor Crowdfunding Entrepreneurship International PGE Ready-to-wear