Estelle Yomeda, a nomadic artist committed to promoting African craftsmanship
Estelle Yomeda is an artist designer and creator of a know-how laboratory between Paris and Lomé. She explores different fields of design, notably furniture and textiles.
After completing a bachelor’s degree in fine arts, she went on to study visual arts at university. Having always had a passion for drawing, painting and handicrafts, she knew she would have to work in the artistic field, with a manual activity. After graduating, she joined the costume workshops at Strasbourg’s Opéra du Rhin. Alongside her love of the visual arts, she developed a passion for shoes. Working at the Opéra enabled her to learn the trade of bootmaker in an inspiring setting. This venue brings together exceptional craftsmen, such as saddlers, wigmakers and corsetiers.
She then left Strasbourg for Paris, where she continued her training with a bootmaker in Belleville. In addition to his talent, this craftsman imparted a great deal of wisdom. He shared with her a precious know-how that helped her on her way. Later, she joined Yves Saint-Laurent’s shoe studio. There, she developed collection prototypes as well as shoes for fashion shows.
Estelle Yomeda, a shoemaker who knows how to put on shoes
Her love of shoes goes back to her childhood. She remembers often drawing characters in little shoes, especially babies. A shoe exhibition she visited with her grandmother probably left its mark on her imagination. Fascinated by the creativity surrounding this object, she sees shoes as a blend of volume, sculpture and material. What’s more, technical constraints stimulate her, as a shoe has to be fitted with precision. This complexity has always fascinated her.
Estelle creates a mini collection of handmade shoes. Thanks to fashion maven Hortensia de Hutten, she takes part in a designer show. This event enabled her to meet Japanese customers, marking the start of her eponymous brand, Estelle Yomeda, which she would develop over the next twelve years. Her brand was distributed at Le Bon Marché, Galeries Lafayette, in Japan and the United States.
After twelve years, she feels the need to explore other fields. The crisis also made things more difficult. She decides to reconnect with her Togolese roots and discovers local crafts. A trip to Togo revealed a new passion: Kenté. This meaningful and aesthetically fascinating fabric inspired the creation of her Kente Project label. She revisits this weave with new combinations of patterns and colors, adapting it to accessories such as bags and shoes.
Kente Project Art Lab: a tribute to craftsmanship
Working between Paris and Lomé is essential to her creativity. Her stays in Togo allow her to recharge her batteries and be more inspired. For the moment, she concentrates on the French market, but this could evolve. Her clientele is varied, though often international.
With Kente Project Art Lab, she continues to work with wood, a material she has always used. In collaboration with a cabinetmaker, she creates functional objects and sculptures. Her creations often straddle the border between art and design. She sees her works as unique pieces, not mere objects.
Her work is not mass-produced. She is part of the “collectibles design” movement, which values unique pieces or those produced in limited series. Each creation is born of a dialogue between craftsmanship and design, giving a unique character to each piece. She enjoys designing and working directly with craftsmen to create special pieces.
Towards a broader future
Estelle has taken part in numerous events, including Paris Design Week and gallery exhibitions, notably at 193 Galerie. However, she prefers to concentrate on creation rather than opening a gallery or boutique. She has also collaborated with brands such as Gérard Darel, enabling her to explore different know-how, always with the same passion.
In the future, she would like to further develop her work around furniture and textiles. She plans to spend more time in Lomé, where she could set up a showroom workshop. The African continent, rich in creativity and talent, inspires her deeply. The link between the hand, know-how and creation is at the heart of her work.
photo credit @Jacques Edouard Vekemans
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