One thing is clear clear: Brigitte Charoy is not a classic clothes shop. The designer?s multiple origins and her experience in renowned institutions such as Anny Blatt and Christian Dior definitely have a role to play in the specificity of the trademark. Because the designer can?t be separated from the trademark and the ?workshop-shop? as they share their originality but also their ?high standard?. Her creations carry her own name.

The concept of ?Brigitte Charoy? ? because it is nothing other than a concept - was implemented in Mauritius in 1998. Born in Germany, married in France where she acquired her knowledge and culture, she wanted to go to the ?most beautiful place on Earth? to launch her business. She had already been to Mauritius several times before and had been working in collaboration with Marie-Claire Lagesse. But it was only in 1998 that she creates her EPZ firm known as Kimkat and her trademark and shop, Brigitte Charoy, on the main road at Pointe-aux-Canoniers.

The most amazing thing about the shop is that there are so many different models and materials on the shelves that customers must have to spend hours there to make sure they have seen everything. ?This is what I like the most, actually,? admits the designer. ?I love it when people have a lot of time to spend in my shop. We can talk and I can give them advice if they need any. If they want something special, I can also try to help them by making tailor-made clothes for them.? In a word, Brigitte Charoy adapts to her customers.

Recruitment campaign

Pull-overs, trousers, kurtas for women and children, as well as accessories such as necklaces and hand-bags... All these can be found in the shop but you?ll never see anything that you have already seen elsewhere. Brigitte Charoy?s rigourous attitude to work can be traced to her German origins and the originality of her models to the French influence in her life. The Mauritian influence is seen in the use of local or regional materials such as sea-shells and sequins which add a lighter touch to her creations. Actually, when Brigitte Charoy came to Mauritius, she wanted to ?offer something different? to the people here. What finally ensued was a high-standard of prêt-à-porter, with a hand-made touch. The shop is divided into two main parts: the showroom and the workshop where employees can be seen busily preparing for the next collection.

Women employed at Brigitte Charoy are not necessarily professionals experienced in knitting. At the moment, the company is doing a recruitment campaign. They need approximately 10 women for their workshop but Brigitte Charoy insists on the fact that they may have worked only on industrial machines or in factories so far. This does not matter as long as she feels they have something to offer to the trademark. The job itself can be taught to them if they like this type of work and are lively people.

The designer even has a project in collaboration with the government. She intends to open a training school for women to teach them how to redirect themselves in terms of training and jobs in the textile sector. Because, according to her, there are possibilities in the sector that are not being exploited and we should not only see the bad side and the major job losses occurring. We should rather ponder on how to change this situation.

Collection for men

Brigitte Charoy is also part of ?Femmes Chefs d?entreprise?. ?I believe I am a bit of a feminist.? Anyway, she believes in the fact that women can bring a lot to the creative sector in Mauritius. The majority of her staff are women except for the driver and the marketing manager who is in fact her son, Stéphane.

He is now a Mauritian resident and is there to help his mother to boost the business. The company is already expanding with the purchase of a small workshsop near the shop but he intends to do more. He has already done something, actually. This year, Brigitte Charoy will launch her first collection for men. ?Many men come with their wives but there is nothing for them. It?s not fair. Of course, we have comfortable armchairs but we had to offer something more!? Stéphane says with a broad smile. He is visibly proud to have been able to bring something new to his mother, the ?creator? as he affectionately calls her. And he does not intend to stop there!