Who are you? Tell us about your journey?

There are two of us: Sébastien François and Pauline Guesné. After our studies (at HEC and MIT for Sébastien and at EM Lyon for Pauline), we both started working at Capgemini Consulting. Our jobs as consultants allowed us to acquire extra skills. Sébastien led IT strategy projects, which taught him how to structure together the expertise of the many different participants involved. This experience helped him to combine different textile skills in order to create the technology behind our fabric. As for Pauline, she gained experience in marketing strategy and today deals with the marketing and distribution of the products.

 

You created THE revolutionary shirt! Tell us a bit more about it?
Our shirt combines three innovative properties. It manages to be stain-resistant, sweat-resistant and stretchy, whilst maintain the advantages of the material of a classic shirt – soft to the touch and excellent breathability.
To achieve this feat, it all begins with the selection of a very high quality cotton. The secret is then the way in which the threads of cotton are spun, woven and treated to thus drastically change their fibres.

Our models have been designed by our Parisian stylists and their cut has been worked by a renowned master French shirt maker. Our shirts are thus unique to their owners, but also modern and elegant in appearance.

 

 

How long did it take to perfect this little marvel?

It took two years of research, led from CETI (the Centre Européen des Textiles Innovants) in Lille, to collate all the required characteristics.

 

Where can we buy the shirt?

It is possible to buy our first model, the Essentielle shirt, on our website: http://www.lelab.cc

 

And the complete collection soon? New models?

We currently have five models which will come out shortly.

As well as the models of our brand Le Lab, we are currently looking for other brands interested in collaborating. You may soon possibly see models from your favourite brand made with our fabric.

 

What is your aim with Le Lab?

Le Lab wants to take everyday clothes into the era of innovative fabrics.

Describe your typical day?

As for any entrepreneur, each day is different. Managing the R&D teams, production management, building the offer, creation of communication supports, organising events, etc. there is always something to do. To structure and prioritise our work, we get together and set ourselves objectives each week. This allows us to allocate the right resources to each activity and to gauge the effectiveness of our actions.

 

What has been your proudest moment?

In November 2015, we carried out the biggest crowdfunding for menswear in France to date. In barely one month, we attracted 200 clients and raised more than €23,000. This success attracted the attention of the press, including M6, France3, BFM, Les Echos, La Tribune, Elle, LSA. In a few months, around thirty publications featured the Le Lab shirt.

 

Do you have any anecdotes for us?

When the M6 news team came to film us at the Who’s Next ready-to-wear exhibition, we performed a demonstration of the anti-stain properties of our fabric. Only, as they were pressed for time, we had to pour the still boiling coffee onto the shirt… and onto Sébastien who was wearing it! The shirt held up perfectly, Sébastien not so much. Yet, he had the courage to show no pain and give his best smile for the camera.

 

Do you have any resolutions for 2016?

We want to be able to offer men even more comfort, convenience and style thanks to technology. To do that, we are currently working on a suit and are continuing our research on the shirt.

 

What has Look Forward offered you?

Having gone from the position of a start-up to that of a company listed on the stock exchange in only three years, Showroomprive.com has acquired an incredible ability to generate and control growth. Drawing on this experience, Look Forward today helps us to refine our business model and to prepare our scaling up of the company.

 

And finally, do you have any advice for internet start-ups dreaming of setting up their own business? Or indeed for those who may be hesitant about doing so in France?

Setting up your own business is an incredibly enriching adventure. Nevertheless, it demands sacrifices and work, sometimes beyond what you had initially imagined. To deal with these sacrifices, here are two secrets:

• Surround yourself – the weight of starting up a business is much lighter when there are two pairs of shoulders to bear it
• Be passionate – the desire to come to work every morning on a project is the thing that encourages you to continue despite the obstacles