Interview : Meet Camille Gabbi during the Imparfaite Fair event

This weekend saw an event we just couldn't miss: the Imparfaite Fair. For two days, fashion and vintage lovers gathered in a magnificent venue, right in the heart of the Marais district, to hunt out the best vintage pieces. We took the opportunity to interview Camille Gabbi, Co-founder and CEO of Imparfaite.

Imparfaite: a story of passionate women

Building on a friendship of over 20 years, it was in 2017 that Camille Gabbi (ex-L'Oréal) and Ariane de Béchade (ex- Saint Laurent) founded Imparfaite, a vintage clothing marketplace. Sourced from 3,500 suppliers, Imparfaite offers the finest selection of vintage clothing on its platform. A mix of unsold and second-hand items is what makes Imparfaite so successful.

"I was telling Ariane that she had a crazy chance to be in the studios and see people sketching silhouettes. That's when she told me it wasn't like that anymore. As collections became more and more regular, there was no longer any "from scratch" creation; inspiration often came from vintage boutiques. Taking elements from here and there, brands still copy and paste to recreate collections. And then fast fashion brands copy what they see on the catwalk, which actually comes from vintage boutiques. It's nonsense, when all you have to do is go straight to the vintage stores around the corner and buy the clothes. "Imparfaite was born of this observation.

Imperfect: an opportunity for brands

On February 11, 2020, the AGEC law came into force, prohibiting the destruction of dormant stocks. With the arrival of this law, textile manufacturers have had to find more efficient alternatives in order to revalue their stocks. Imparfaite meets the criteria of those wishing to help offer a selection of trendy, quality vintage clothing, while promoting their CSR policy.

"It's a godsend for brands, since we give them visibility among a hyper-qualitative clientele: 18 - 45 year-olds." Camille explains.

A community of 196,000 followers on Instagram

Followed by over 196,000 followers on Instagram, Imparfaite has organically built an engaged community.

"When we started out, we talked to our friends, but also to female influencers. Since influencing wasn't as professionalized, it all happened naturally. We'd give them clothes and they'd write little editorials for us."

The growing visibility ensured by the influence and content strategy put in place, has led Imparfaite to an international clientele. Today, 25% of Imparfaite customers are American. This international craze can be explained by the excessive cost of vintage in the United States.

Imparfaite Fair: the Parisian vintage event

Four times a year, Imparfaite brings together the platform's top 50 sellers for an impressive event, during which their most beautiful pieces are exhibited. " The whole community is present, and it's a real opportunity to exchange ideas," Camille explains. For two days, the barriers imposed by digital technology are broken down, leading to powerful encounters between Imparfaite customers and the two founders.

On March 9 and 10, 2024, 1000m² in Imparfaite colors rocked the vintage world. Levis jeans, embroidered blouses, dresses, jumpsuits, cardigans, coats, lingerie and accessories, it was hard not to leave the pop-up without having hunted down a piece.

The importance of physical events to address digital issues

Although e-commerce purchasing has become commonplace, issues such as size selection and a lack of vintage knowledge can sometimes be a barrier to online shopping. Thanks to Imparfaite Fair, customers can take a look at what's on offer and make sure of the quality of the garments, which then simplifies the transition to purchasing on www.imparfaite.com.

"Every time, the community is pleasantly surprised by the quality of the selection and the choice of pieces on offer. What's more, 60% of the platform's customers had never bought vintage before," adds Camille.

BtoB partners at the Imparfaite Fair

For the first time, BtoB partners were invited to the event. Brands such as Icone Lingerie, Maison Cléo and Carel were present. A first that will undoubtedly be repeated in future editions. " The more we progress, the more we integrate new partners," explains Camille.

Why vintage in 2024?

By definition, a vintage piece is one that is 20 years old. Produced before the advent of fast fashion and the relocation of production plants, these are items made from noble materials that deserve to be revalued.

"It's often explained that vintage is the natural selection of clothes. If a piece lasts 20 years, it's because it's of high quality and has been designed to last," Camille tells us.

Vintage clothing: a passport to history

At least 20 years old, these exceptional garments pass the generations. These catalysts of emotion pass on to us their stories, and a little of those lived by their former owners. Camille concludes by telling us:

"Ariane always imagines stories around the vintage clothes she wears. A fringed garment could very well have been worn by a folk dancer, for example. In any case, these are pieces that can be kept, cherished and passed on to future generations. We're never the sole owners of a piece, we're just passing owners."

_{Find Imparfaite on www.imparfaite.com.
Follow all the platform's news on their Instagram : Imparfaiteparis.
To follow Camille Gabbi on her social networks, visit her Instagram (camille_gabbi_imparfaite) and her Linkedin (Camille Gabbi).}

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