Under the Belgian sun, TPR (Toujours Plus Responsable) meets at the top between Balzac Paris fabric scraps , treasures from our past collections, and the iconic shirts of Paolina's designer, Macha Dormal. A mixture as skilful as it is charming, which gives birth to a unique capsule collection embodied by the Great F(Amis)lle Balzac Paris , feet in the sand and a cone of fries in hand to enjoy the sun until the Indian summer.

Meeting with Chrysoline de Gastines, founder of Balzac Paris, and Macha Dormal, founder of Paolina to discover behind the scenes of the collaboration.

MASHA

I am Macha Dormal , the creator of Paolina , a Belgian brand with Catalan accents that I launched in May 2020. I draw my inspiration from my childhood memories rocked by my grandfather's Catalan boat where there was always a wind of carelessness and freedom. I create one-size-fits-all women's shirts so that each of them can make it their own, and everything is produced in Belgium in limited and numbered series. I like to cultivate a certain form of singularity and rarity in my creations.

CHRYSOLINE

Hello everyone, I am Chrysoline de Gastines, originally from Lille and happy mother of three children: Garance, Colombe and Lazare. I co-founded Balzac Paris with Charles and Victorien, my two associates, who are also my brother-in-law and my husband. Balzac Paris is therefore a family story, which grows every day to form the Grande F(Amis)lle Balzac Paris ! Today we are very happy to invite Macha Dormal, the founder of Paolina , to reinvent and re-enchant Balzac Paris fabric scraps .

MASHA

Chrysoline contacted me last summer and offered to reissue my iconic Paolina shirts in Balzac Paris fabric scraps. His request touched me and I obviously accepted! The TPR values ​​of Balzac Paris speak to me and give meaning to the world of fashion in which I immersed myself. Slow fashion is part of Paolina's values, with respect for people and nature. Our paths were made to cross and together write a piece of tomorrow's fashion history!

CHRYSOLINE

Lille and Belgium have always gotten along... It was time for the two to collaborate on a collection with northern accents! Otherwise, Macha said it all, I contacted her to suggest that she reinvent Paolina blouses with Balzac Paris fabric scraps . We also have one blouse in particular which is the perfect match between our two worlds: the blue and white striped Septente Deux blouse , which is an absolutely iconic model ! We obviously worked with Macha in close collaboration with the Balzac Paris creative team. When we work from scraps of fabric, what is exciting is that the field of possibilities is offered to us since we already have the raw material in front of our eyes! We can have fun doing mix-and-match as we see fit, creatively it's very strong and very interesting. We worked on explosive fabric combinations but also more classic things to suit everyone.

MASHA

As long as it's happy and bright for me, everything works! There is no fault of taste, nor badly chosen associations. It's just a clever mix of prints that sends me emotions.

CHRYSOLINE

I really like the world of decoration and I find that it's a sector that is very good at finding combinations of colors and prints that denote and clash. I am thinking, for example, of the association of red and pink that we also see more and more in fashion. Before, it was forbidden! We have to draw inspiration from everything around us and make mix-and-matches that are both fluid in their reading, and that create surprise and real emotions.

MASHA

A good basic like denim shorts or white pants! But also leopard pants to give an offbeat twist to your outfit.

CHRYSOLINE

Just like Macha: jeans, denim shorts , leopard of course, and I think the Balzac Paris x Paolina blouse will be perfect this summer to put on just above your swimsuit , it's a must-have to have without your suitcase!

MASHA

For brunch, I love going to Chez Crème in Sablon, one of my sons, Charlie, is a fan of the place and we enjoy it as soon as we go there together.

For a lunch with friends there is Chez Martine (Chaussée de Charleroi) but also Campo (place du Châtelain) or to eat quickly (or to take away) the delicious and tasty spring rolls from Knees to Chin.

For a drink, Chez Richard , the most Parisian terrace in Brussels (Sablon)!

For a romantic dinner there is the St Kilda (Avenue Coghen), Gazzetta (Rue de la Longue Haie) but also a great classic that I love like Le Vieux St Martin which also overlooks the Sablon.

CHRYSOLINE

For a Parisian summer, an unusual idea: go to the Tuilieries to go to the carnival ! We don't necessarily think about it, but going on a carousel surrounded by historic buildings is both magical and poetic. I did it just last Wednesday and I was won over! Otherwise, I recommend going to spend some time on the terrace of the Bellanger brewery , it will be an opportunity to drink a beer there in a nod to our Belgian friends! In the heart of the 9th arrondissement, avenue de Trudaine , there are also plenty of good addresses. In August, the streets of Paris are empty and it is an opportunity to walk there on foot, and even why not to visit museums. If you want to go somewhere else, why not leave Paris and go to the Perche at the Country Lodge , you can book a cabin in the middle of nature there!

MASHA

One of my favorite songs (which is old but which I never tire of) which reminds me of my holidays in Aigua Blava when I was young: “ La Flaca” by Jarabe De Palo. And of course, as a Belgian, I want to add “Vivre Libre” by Angèle!

CHRYSOLINE

The song of the summer without hesitation: "Celebrate the World" by Womack & Womack! Very vintage but very cool. And then the last song of DJ Snake, "Disco Magrheb".