Founded by Bénédicte Kaluvangimoko, French streetwear label Fille de Joie literally translates to “joyful girl,” but it’s also a euphemism used in France to describe a female prostitute. For Kaluvangimoko, the name speaks to the quandary of being a woman in a world that still abides by Madonna/whore constructs wherein a woman often arbitrarily is viewed as one or the other, but never both. Above all else, the designer says she makes clothing for women who despite the challenges lived their lives joyfully, unconcerned by judgement.
Inspired in part by JC de Castelbajac, a French designer known for his humorous and edgy take on style, the label saw its profile rise last year when model Gigi Hadid was spotted wearing one of the label’s branded mesh panel sweatshirts, an item that’s became a signature for the brand.
In other good news for the brand, it won the first Talents de Mode prize as awarded by trade show Premiere Classe, and has plans to open a brick and mortar store in Lyon sometime in October.
A bright talent to watch, Fille de Joie is available on filledejoie.com.