Jess Bauldry: We know that consumption of fashion fell during the pandemic, mainly because people were spending so much time at home. How has this impacted your business?

Claudie Grisius: We saw the reverse happen because we designed masks. I think we were the first Luxembourg designer to produce masks. We were really proud to have reacted that quickly. It was quite a risk to take, because we made large numbers but they sold quite well. From the pandemic, obviously we sold less prêt-à-porter (ready to wear) and silk scarves. I’ve noticed that since the restaurants reopened people are coming back to buy these things. It has nothing to do with the weather. We really noticed the shift in the last 10 days, people want to look good again.

The pandemic may have pushed some people to reconsider their careers, something that you did in 2011 when you created Vol(t)age with your sister, Stéphanie. How did you end up going from law to fashion?

I was a lawyer for 17 years, working in corporate law with Clifford Chance. It’s difficult when you’re 18. You’re supposed to choose a path, but I didn’t know what I should be doing. My father was a banker. I thought if you study law you can do anything afterwards. Then I got lost as a lawyer. I was always interested in fashion and clothes. I liked decorating my house, being creative and interested in beauty and decoration.

I didn’t have experience making clothes, though I was buying loads of clothes. My sister is much more technical and took sewing classes. She’s the technician in our couple. This is what helped us get really creative and get constructive with this creative side.

Claudie with sister Stéphanie set up Vol(t)age in 2011. Today they sell silk scarves, masks and smartshirts, as well as offering a made-to-measure service. Photo: Vol(t)age

How hard was it to make the transition and what advice do you have for other people looking to make a career pivot?

I’m often envied by people who tell me they’re quite jealous I knew what I wanted to do. I think the most difficult part is to have an idea you can work on. For me it wasn’t brave at all, I knew what I wanted to do. If you know what you want to do it’s easier to take the leap of faith to do it.

If you’re passionate about something you don’t really need the bravery you just do it, it comes naturally. It’s like a calling.

Sustainability is becoming more important for consumers. How hard is it to be a sustainable and successful clothing designer and producer in Luxembourg?

We don’t have mass production, we produce in two small factories in Portugal where we almost know every seamstress. We know that we pay a fair price for the products. We also work with our two seamstresses at the workshop for the silk production side. There I pay the Luxembourg wages and they’re very sustainable. We know the customers pay higher, that’s unfortunately the way it is. I prefer to take a less high margin and to have a product produced by people I know and where we treat people fairly than have them produced in huge numbers in China or another country. Success can also mean creating meaning in what you do and for me it’s far more important nowadays.