For the year 2022, we are preparing a nice surprise for our customers. This is a large-scale project, both stimulating and exciting , on which all our teams are currently mobilized. At the moment, I can't tell you too much, but I can tell you that our customers will soon be able to experience their relationship with the brand and products even more intensely Wear Moi . But shh, I won't reveal any more today, see you in a few months...
Article: Interview with Christophe Ridet, founder of Wear Moi
Summary
Could you tell us about your career as a professional dancer?
You should know that I followed a fairly atypical path... From an artistic point of view, I did the complete opposite of the traditional dancer's path! I started dancing with dance classes jazz and contemporary , being inspired by two films that marked my youth: Saturday Night Fever and West Side Story. At the time, I was one of the only boys in my dance class...
A few years later, around the age of 15, my mindset changed and dance became a much more serious passion. I understood that I had to evolve towards classical dance in order to progress as best as possible thereafter.
It was in 1983, at just 17 years old, that I started audition as a professional dancer . I was hired in a contemporary company, made up of a troupe of 10 dancers. It was directed by Brigitte LEFEVRE, famous dancer and choreographer who directed the Paris Opera for nearly 20 years. I think she directly identified my potential, I was a young man full of energy, straight from Bourg-en-Bresse, with dreams in my head.
That's when the tours started, so I started travel the world . I took a plane for the very first time in my life, heading to Hong Kong for a two-month tour of Asia.
The company closed its doors, that’s why I joined the Tours Ballet company that Jean-Christophe MAILLOT, current director of the Ballets de Monte Carlo, directed at the time. There I met Ronald DARDEN, who was the ballet master of the company and he very quickly became my mentor. It was he who introduced me to classical dance as well as Anglo-Saxon culture. I then passed my audition at the Ballets de Monte Carlo , one of the most renowned classical dance companies in the world led at the time by Jean-Yves ESQUERRE.
I was injured in 1992, following a bad landing from a jump, when I was 26 years old. I made the decision not to resume my career as a dancer, having the ambition to devote myself fully to the project Wear Moi !
Can you tell us how the idea for the brand name came about?
The creation of the company name dates back to the time when I was part of the Ballets de Monte Carlo troupe. I met there Mark ZAPPONE , who was the director of the costume workshop. It is important to specify that Mark is of American origin, more precisely from Seattle…
When I had to make the costumes for the choreographic workshop in 1991, Marc supported me and opened the doors of his workshop to me. It was in his workshop that I made our very first creations. I spent entire days chatting with Mark in English, while sewing and drinking coffee.
Shortly after, the idea of creating a brand germinated and the question of the name arose. I immediately thought of a subliminal message to sell my creations. “Buy me”? Too direct! “Carry me”? That sounds bad! “Wear Me”? We miss the French Touch!
It was then that “ Wear Moi » was born, a mix between the French and Anglo-Saxon culture , which already fascinated me at the time. It’s a name that perfectly reflects what I was going through 30 years ago.
In what Wear Moi is different from other dancewear brands?
In my opinion, what makes the difference today is the vision we have for our company . You should know that we are still at the head of Wear Moi, 30 years later. In fact, Elisabeth and I founded Wear Moi in 1992. Since then, we have fully participated in process of creating and developing our products . From the choice of raw materials to the final fittings, we are always present and remain decision-makers.
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We want to remain guarantors of the quality of our products, both in terms of the development of our creations and the artistic vision of the brand. We have had the same rigorous approach since our beginnings: the constant search for excellence . Today, our goal is to be the best in what we offer. These values have always been our daily driving forces. This state of mind is greatly linked to our respective careers as professional dancers, an environment where discipline, demands and perfection were essential. Moreover, our experience allows us to have a unique understanding of dancers' unique clothing needs . We know what it takes to find the perfect balance between comfort and performance.
As the founder of the brand, what is your greatest pride today?
I would say that my greatest pride is the evolution of Wear Moi as a job creator . 30 years ago, I created tunics from my living room, all alone. Since then, we have evolved greatly which has allowed us to build a great united team spread across the four corners of the world, from Japan to New Caledonia via the USA and Tunisia and of course France...
