Holleis Sissi - Sweat Shop Paris: lessons from a sewing café

Sweat Shop Paris TEXT Martena Duss & Sissi Holleis 2011 DESIGN AND LAYOUT Ivy Press Limited / Dominik Huber 2011 All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission, except in the case of reprints in the context of reviews. Andrews McMeel Publishing, LLC an Andrews McMeel Universal company 1130 Walnut Street, Kansas City, Missouri 64106 www.andrewsmcmeel.com EISBN: 978-1-4494-2035-2 Library of Congress Control Number: 2011926183 www.andrewsmcmeel.com This book was conceived, designed, and produced by Ivy Press 210 High Street Lewes East Sussex BN7 2NS United Kingdom www.ivy-group.co.uk CREATIVE DIRECTOR: Peter Bridgewater PUBLISHERS: Jason Hook & Jenny Manstead ART DIRECTOR: Wayne Blades SENIOR EDITOR: Jayne Ansell DESIGNER: Dominik Huber Color origination by Ivy Press Reprographics 11 12 13 14 15 IYP 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 ATTENTION: SCHOOLS AND BUSINESSES: Andrews McMeel books are available at quantity discounts with bulk purchase for educational, business, or sales promotional use. For information, please e-mail the Andrews McMeel Publishing Special Sales Department: Both metric and imperial measurements are given throughout the book. To ensure accuracy of projects, the Sweat Shop team recommends you stick to one form of measurement throughout. COVER PHOTOGRAPHS: Melanie Petitqueux & Martena Duss TEXT: Samantha Rajasingham PHOTOGRAPHY: Cassius, Dominik Emrich, Esther Michel, Histoire et vies du 10e arrondissement, Laurence Tarquin von Thomas, Mlanie Petitqueux: Munia Sbouri, Tanker, TECHNICAL ILLUSTRATIONS: Benedicte Flom: Caroline Witzmann: Emily Towers: Isabell Thrun: Madison OMara: Mlle Kou aka Cline Dupuy: Sbastien Davidtelevision: MODELS: Alison, Audrey, Bent, Cline, Charlie, Hubert, Isabell, Jade, Jazzmine, Kim, Lauren, Madison, Peter, Rain, Samantha, Tim Sweat Shop would like to thank everyone who contributed to this book!

YOUR CURIOSITY HAS ALREADY BROUGHT YOU HERE, AND CURIOSITY IS HALFWAY TO CREATIVITY. Sweat Shop Paris is a sourcebook. It is a photo album full of inspiration because thats what Sweat Shop is: an inspiring place. The idea for our shop was to create a space where you can rent equipment, take classes in knitting and sewing, drink coffee, and eat cake. However, putting people in touch with artists and master craftsmen gave rise to an unexpected variety of whimsical projects. People came back because Sweat Shop excited them; it is a crossroads for ideas.

This sense of community used to be familiar but can be hard to find in the city today. We thought about the little picturesque villages that our families are from. Not so long ago, it was common for people to get together to sew and knit. Friendships were nurtured over coffee and cake. We wanted Sweat Shop to re-create these villages. We are located deep in the living heart of Paris, near Place de la Rpublique.

Our little nook in the 10th arrondissement is truly one of the prettiest parts of the city. This is a place where young families mix with artists and the older, more established residents of the neighborhood. People here are proud to be part of the new Paris; one that is not living in the shell of its past yet still retains its old-world charm. Go ahead and turn the pages. Feel at home in our world. We hope this book is often in your hands, gets stained with coffee, folded with use.

If that happens, we will be happy. And more importantly, we hope you will be, too. Happy cake, coffee, and crafting! With love, The Sweat Shop crew www.sweatshopparis.com

THESE ARE PEOPLE WHO WEAVE TODAYS PARIS INTO MACAROON COLORS AND WHO HUNT FOR ADVENTURE IN HER LABYRINTHINE STREETS. WE ARE NESTLED NEAR THE MURMURING CANAL ST-MARTIN, AS IT WENDS ITS GENTLE WAY THROUGH THE CITY, OLD AND NEW. COME MEET OUR FAMILY. COME VISIT OUR HOME.

We are two expats based in Paris. Martena is a Swiss makeup artist who has called Paris her home for six years. Sissi, hailing from Austria, previously ran Sissi Holleis in the 11th, her own label and store. WHAT IS SWEAT SHOP? A caf couture, which means a coffee shop where you share ideas on sewing, and rent machines and materials to finish your projects. WHEN DID YOU START SWEAT SHOP? In November of 2009, a friend told us that there was a space opening up in the neighborhood next to his shop. We started decorating in January, and by mid-March we opened the shop.

It really only took four months for Sweat Shop to be born. HOW DID YOU THINK OF IT? WHAT TRIGGERED THE IDEA?