Meet Orelie Varnier | High Fashion Designer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Orelie Varnier and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Orelie, what role has risk played in your life or career?
I took risks all my life. I had big dreams since I was 5 and the only way to make them real was to take risks: I used to live in the country side in France and I dreamed about living in California and dressing the princesses I saw on TV.
Crazy and unrealistic for my relatives, my dreams became my only goal.
But at this time the risks were limited because I didn’t have a lot to lose

In 2019, when my husband, my 18 months daughter and I left France and sold our house to put everything in our project and came to live in California and develop our own Fashion brand, risks were way more important.
But I was confident that one day or another I should be successful enough to live comfortably: I’ve been trained by Pierre Cardin himself and I worked in Haute Couture studios of the most prestigious brand in Paris (CHANEL and DIOR), so my expertise was unique in California.

And it could have been the case (to live comfortably) before we spent all our savings but the Covid hit us (very hard), we were scammed twice and we faced incredulity of people who found my story too crazy to be true.

I finally met the good people at the right time, just when we were completely broke.
I’ve been introduced to people who were dreaming about meeting someone like me, someone who can make any fashion piece they want (clothe or even accessory) with the highest standards they can find.
By highest standards, I mean the Haute Couture Standards, the highest level in fashion.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I make mostly unique pieces with the most refined fabrics and accessories and the highest standards – standards I was used to while working as a seamstress in Haute Couture. It takes time. Most people ignore that it can take weeks to make a dress.

I offer a very exclusive service: I go and visit my clients at their home to take their measurements, discuss what they dream of, show them some fabric swatches, visit their closet to have an idea of what they like …
Sometimes I come back to show them some sketches I made specially for them after the first visit, other fabrics, other ideas… until they choose an outfit.
I come back again with a toile/muslin to check if the pattern I made fits perfectly before making the piece in the final fabric.
Finally I deliver in person, the most exciting moment by the way.

I knew from the start that there were a lot of people who could be interested in my offer: High end custom made by Haute Couture seamstress.
The problem was to be introduced to these people. I don’t know them. It’s way to expensive to advertise, so they don’t know me. If I contact them directly, they think I’m going to scam them …
The big challenge was to meet the right person who believe in me enough to introduce me to these people.
Many times I thought I met the right person but quickly I understood they don’t keep their word, or worse, they scammed me and I lost a lot.
It took me 4 years to gain the trust of one person especially and finally being introduced to the right person.

Now the main challenge is to hire very good seamstresses who are flexible enough to learn the highest standards of the fashion.

Besides, The main lesson I learned since I arrive in 2019 in California is that I shouldn’t trust people too easily like I was used to. So I got tougher in business, unfortunately.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
We don’t know well the region because even if we live here since 2019, we spent our time to work. Nonetheless, I would show them these places I like to go sometimes: The Griffith observatory for the view, Santa Monica Pier to take a Margarita at Maria Sol, Manhattan Beach for the beach, the Langham Pasadena for a drink, Beverly Hills for a tour, Big Bear for a week end in the mountain, Houston’s for a good steak, Din Tai Fung for a great spicy soup and the best dumplings.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I think I owe most of my success to Mr Pierre Cardin. Because he believed in me, he took me under his wings and taught me everything.

When I was younger, I had difficulties in school and nobody at home helped me, so I tried to escape mentally from this society that didn’t understand me by drawing. I’ve always loved to draw. I never took drawing class. However, I suppose I’m pretty good at it: the director of the “Art College” told me that I have nothing to learn in his school because I know perfectly how to draw !

But when Pierre Cardin took me on an internship, very soon he told me: “if you want to succeed in this field, you need to know how to make a garment from start to finish”.
So he asked me to learn sewing and pattern making in his studio.
He even paid for a fashion school, so I get an educational background.
One year later only (2007) he hired me (he liked people who learn fast).
I used to work directly with Mr Cardin, my mentor. In 2013, I wanted to change and to discover new horizons. Mr Cardin supported me in this change. We still had great relations until he passed away 😢.

I’m also very grateful to my husband who supported me in my project to come in California and develop my own brand from the moment we met in 2014. He sold the house he bought in 2005 to put everything in this project.
Besides, he helps me as much as he can with my company (communication, website, supplies … all the non creative parts)

Finally I want to say how grateful I am to 2 other persons: Max and Sushma.
Max is a very nice French guy who owns the most beautiful Jewelry in Pasadena (Place Vendôme).
He believed in my story and introduced me to some of his clients.
Sushma is one of Max’s clients. She liked also my story and introduced me to many of her friends who love high-end Custom made. She became a good friend and my business partner.

Website: ovparis.com

Instagram: ovpariscouture

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCCONok28eXwHYLgc4TFpVUA

Image Credits
Models: JASMINE GLASPIE, MONIKA MCCARRICK, OLGA, TALESHA BYRD, EMILY RAE, BRIANNA BARNES and ALEXIS MICHAUD