Palem was founded by husband and wife Selim and Juliet Birken to create responsible and attractive collections.
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Clothing and accessories brand Palem attaches great importance to using only natural or plant-based materials, thus reducing its environmental impact while facilitating future transformation. increase.
With their commitment to slow fashion, they listen to the world around them and especially insist on keeping it up. doing. Whether it’s greener manufacturing processes or social behavior for the men and women who make their collections, the brand’s approach has kept up with the times, evolving daily towards better solutions.
After several years of research and development in fashion spaces around the world, Palem was founded in 2019 by the husband-and-wife duo of Selim and Juliette Birken to create a responsible and compelling collection.
In 2022, we opened a store in the United Arab Emirates, followed by stores in Paris and Singapore, followed by stores in Bali. The process of choosing materials and their natural composition is an integral part of the brand. Collections are produced in limited quantities to enhance the value of each product.
Palem has a “zero rest” policy. This means systematically recycling surplus fabrics and scraps to maximize our approach. They also place special emphasis on the perfect fit of their garments and the know-how of their Chinese workshops.
Palem co-founder and creative designer Juliette Barkan explained how the brand creates a fashionable environmental impact. “Sustainability is in our DNA. We care about the environmental impact of the fashion business and want to do the right thing. We’re limiting the effect through the pillars.”
The concept of the brand began with a couple’s dream to bring their most cherished passion for travel to life with a soft and powerful name that pays homage to the palm trees of Indonesia.
With a background in fashion education, Juliette studied fashion at the French Fashion Institute, where she learned a lot about the production side of business. Before she moved to Paris, she spent time in Spain learning the commercial side of business.
She also stayed in China in 2004 to complete a fashion design course at the Marangoni Institute. Her residency in Shanghai lasted her 15 years and is also where the idea for Palem was born. The company manufactures its collections in its Shanghai workshop.
“Often misjudged and misjudged, China possesses outstanding know-how that is often underestimated. Originally a country with an ancestral textile tradition, today China is an industrial, environmental and social China is in the midst of a transformation.Working conditions for Chinese workers have changed significantly over the past decade.Due to labor shortages, manufacturers are forced to ensure good working conditions and fair compensation for their workers. We have audited and supported the factory, which includes not only wages, working conditions and environment, but also compulsory insurance,” added Juliette. Her role at Palem ranges from developing her brand concept to working on brand DNA, communication, distribution and her social network. Management in collaboration with global brand teams.
Palem offers shopping bags made from reusable fabrics instead of plastic bags, ships orders in boxes made from recyclable paper, places organic cotton at the center of its collections, and uses natural materials. We are making efforts to consider the environment, such as preference.
Doesn’t all of this make buying from them far more expensive from a consumer’s perspective? pointing out.
“Yes, it is more expensive than traditional fashion, but quality is the deciding factor. Sustainable fashion and current fashion are diametrically opposed. Sustainable fashion has an uncouth image of being limited to cotton, linen, and linen. I am fully convinced that to attract customers to sustainable fashion we need to remain attractive, current and trendy. ‘s environmental and social standards guarantees are now achievable,” she explained.
When asked what her biggest obstacle is in trying to make a difference in the industry, she said: It’s too late to act, but it’s never too late to start. But now the environmental impact of the fashion business cannot be ignored. “
Juliet believes that fashion defines personality, society and the mood of an era. It is more than just clothing and accessories, it is a reflection of our society. It is undoubtedly a means of expression for both designers and consumers.
Revealing how much design is affected when it comes to adopting sustainable routes, she added: Textile manufacturers have significantly expanded their sustainable material offerings, starting with recycled materials (polyester, silk, wool) and moving towards eco-friendly materials such as viscose. “
Until a few years ago, designers were discouraged from taking this approach because the options were fairly limited and very basic. But she feels there has been great progress towards expensive materials with very complex finishes.
“Naturally, sustainable materials cost 20-30% more, but that’s part of the process. It allowed us to explore new production techniques,” she revealed.
Palem was developed based on Juliet’s personal love of travel, style and especially the ideology of never-ending summer. She wanted to bring to life a concept that would make the summer season feel like it really never ended.
“We believe that both how our clothes look and how they feel are important. We achieve that by using prints that mix terracotta, ocher, ecru and eucalyptus, and materials that are all eco-friendly. can do.