And off we go…
On the train back to Paris, I start sketching the collection… I can’t stop, and this goes on for weeks.
In the end, the Vertou City Hall withdraws its call for projects… But it doesn’t matter—our project has gained too much momentum to stop now. So, we go all in!
I dive into market research, conduct a benchmark study, analyze cycling commute statistics, and start compiling everything into a report. Then, I head off to join my parents on their vacation in Tenerife. I present the market study to them, and we come to the same conclusion: there is a real need! It would be a shame not to go for it.
My dad sets off to climb the 30 km ascent of Mount Teide… Maybe it’s the lack of oxygen, but when he comes back down, he seems lost in thought (or just completely exhausted!).
So there we are, sitting at a terrace, sipping cocktails, when my dad suddenly pulls out a pen, unfolds a napkin, and starts sketching a rough business plan. Meanwhile, my mom and I imagine what the collection could look like: "What if we made a dress in this fabric? And added a drawstring to make it more practical…?"
Towards realization!
Once we’re back, all we talk about is the project. We even share it with all our friends, family, and loved ones, and they all support our idea. They’re excited about what we’re doing and feel connected to our desire to make cycling commutes easier.
We keep working on the market research and business plan, and my dad arranges a meeting with an accountant from the Nantes area to discuss the project. She believes in it, and the numbers seem realistic—even when they’re written on a napkin! So, I move forward with the collection. I start creating mood boards, sketching designs, and finally, we have a first draft of the collection plan.
In the meantime, we identify bike and sustainable mobility fairs across Europe and attend them to assess the potential. This reinforces our belief that our range offers a real solution that the current market doesn’t fully address.
A project that’s rolling!
A month later, it’s decided—we’re going for it!!! On January 2, 2024, I dedicate myself full-time to the brand we want to create. We jump into meetings with banks, present the project, and refine it. For us, it’s the beginning of a rollercoaster ride. The immediate feedback after the meetings with the bank advisors is super positive. We’re full of hope, but then we wait for weeks, even months, to get a response.
Unfortunately, as soon as our request is passed to the regional level, it’s an immediate rejection: “Our bank doesn’t finance stock.”
Despite the disappointment, we’re fully invested and don’t understand the decision. We stay motivated, and a few weeks later, finally, we get two positive responses. The Caisse d'Épargne and Credit Mutuel agree to back us with the full amount of our funding request!
We can finally move forward!
Decisive Internship!
At the beginning of May, we get an S.O.S. from my cousin—he needs a 2-month internship in communications and can’t find one. How lucky! He’s amazing, and, on top of that, communications isn’t our area of expertise, but it’s a crucial subject we really need to focus on!
For us, who dreamed of creating a family business, this is a perfect fit!
So, Jules joins the company and starts looking for a communications agency to build our website. Thanks to him, we meet the MODO agency in Nantes, and we immediately hit it off. The wheels are in motion.
Since Jules is a very versatile intern, he plays along and agrees to become the first Pignon model when we receive our first real prototypes. It’s starting to feel real! Then, everyone gets involved—my mom, my partner, my brother, my best friend… we go through fitting after fitting.
The home stretch!
The collection starts to take shape, the website too, and we apply to exhibit at several trade shows for early 2025. We’re working on everything—days and weeks fly by, and the launch date we set is fast approaching. Some prototypes haven’t arrived yet, some designs are still not approved, delays are piling up, and uncertainty is creeping in…
Will we make it?
