Interview Monday with Catherine Seixo, creator of the brand Born to Be Kitch (BBK for short !) ; a sublime collection of children’s clothes and accessories which are “Made in France “.
Both chic and sophisticated, great care and attention has been paid to each item.
The designer, a lover of the 30s and the Art Deco movement, offers stylish and quality clothing whose timeless shapes and cuts take us back to that time – a wonderful world full of poetry , tenderness and mischief .
Let’s find out more about the lady behind www.bbkcreations.fr
Would you mind introducing yourself and your brand to our readers?
I’m Catherine Seixo, I’m an architect, designer mother of two playful and dreamy children, Lukas and Lise. I’m also the founder of “Born to be kitsch” (Bbk ) in 2010.
Where does the name Bbk Creations originate from?
Bbk is a upscale brand, manufactured in France, inspired by the 20s and the decorative arts, and when I was searching for a brand name, I wanted something short and easy to identify.
My son Lukas, when he was little, said: “I am baby K”. It’s good because it means “Born to be kitsch” & also “Born to be Kid”. So I’ve combined so my two passions: children and the retro scene, but also it means “out of fashion”, and I like that.
Can you tell us a little bit about your background? How did you become a kids fashion designer?
I have always been passionate about many things; history and fashion but also art, sculpture and literature. Specifically in the period covering the 1880’s-1940’s.
As a child, I drew all the time, and after 10 years as an architect, I gradually oriented to interior design and fabrics. You can’t dress a whole house with draperies and as a mother I found children’s fashion hard, I wanted poetry, I wanted to create a small world of elegance and refinement for them. And that’s how I decided to do what I’d been dreaming of doing.
What are the inspirations or motivations behind your design?
Children are my main source of inspiration, their intelligence, their way of seeing the world, the little things of everyday life. Sometimes this can be a phrase overheard, the beauty of a text, or a simple light in the morning … I try to make the children’s world more magical.
I think that today, children are thrown too early in an adult world, so I try to tell a story with the clothes but also accessories that protect the innocence of children.
What are three of the most important things to consider when designing a line of kids clothing?
Well several things are important.
For me, a garment is a dream, it tells a story and that begins with the choice of fabric, then the design. How I imagine the garment on children, is it something that the child will love to wear?
But also important is working with the garment factory in France and how it will be made? I think this comes from my architect’s job as that is always a collaborative creaton.
Do you have children? How does that influence your work?
Yes, as mentioned, I have two children, both are passionate about their own little worlds. And because of that their look is very rewarding: Lukas dreams of becoming a writer, he is very precise with words and Lise is whimsical (and one of Bbk’s staunchest critics!).
What are some essentials that every child should have in their closet?
For a boy a dress shirt with long sleeves and for a girl a nice hat to match a dress… Also a nice pair of shoes. A good pair of shoes can make an the outfit.
What are the most rewarding and most challenging aspects of your job?
What is most difficult in my work is sometimes it’s letting go. Designing is a bit like obsessive passion, it’s rewarding because there is wonderment in the eyes of the children, when they feel and see something that is beautiful, and that makes gives it a little bit more value.
If one of our readers is in your city, Landes (France) for 24 hours. What one thing would you recommend they do?
I live in the Landes between the forest and the ocean so I would recommend they take time to be lulled by the sound of the waves in the morning, to walk among the giant trees and breathe the nature all around.
Website: www.bbkcreations.fr
