Anne Willi
Anne Willi is a French-Swiss fashion designer who grew up in Paris. After studying fashion design at ESMOD, she moved to Tel Aviv for seven years, where she created her first collections under the Anne Shimon label.
In 1998, she opened her first eponymous boutique-workshop on Rue Keller, in the 11th arrondissement of Paris, becoming the first designer to invest in this street. In 2010, she opened a second boutique on Rue de l'Odéon, in the Saint-Germain-des-Prés district.
Looking to expand her international presence, Anne Willi opened a pop-up store in Brooklyn, New York, in 2013. Building on its success, a permanent boutique opened in February 2015 on Atlantic Avenue, followed by a second in March 2018 in Williamsburg.
In 2024, she won the competition launched by the Philharmonie de Paris to create and produce stage outfits for the musicians of the Orchestre de Paris, offering a ten-piece wardrobe allowing each person to choose according to their needs and style.
The brand is now also distributed in Japan and Switzerland.
Our engagement
Anne Willi, a French-Swiss fashion designer, has integrated eco-responsibility into the heart of her approach since the beginning of her brand.
Interview with Anne Willi on her brand's commitment
How does your brand’s Green commitment translate?
It's first and foremost a way of life and an education I've had since childhood. As a stylist and entrepreneur, I work on a timeless line that can be worn from generation to generation, with beautiful fabric qualities that don't wear out.
I source all my materials myself and work with the same factory, with whom I develop a relationship of trust. Before each production launch, we come on-site with the collection manager and the pattern maker to explain the collection and maintain a human relationship of mutual trust.
I only work with fabrics and supplies from the European Union.
What are the challenges you face?
We are working on a traceability sheet to better understand the responsibility of our manufacturers and to trace the entire supply chain.
What are your upcoming projects?
Doing better, but not more. This includes reusing materials we've already purchased in order to recycle them. Beyond style and quality, purchasing our collections is also an ethical commitment.
What was your eco-responsible trigger?
I grew up in a family whose culture embraced this; it was a given for me. We were treated with homeopathy and fed Demeter-certified products. From the age of 3 to 18, I attended a Rudolf Steiner school that emphasizes nature and respect for it.
What is your brand’s most eco-responsible message?
I design and make clothes that can be worn for a long time and accompany a woman throughout her life.
Everything is produced in Europe only, the materials and supplies come from the European Economic Community. At each trade show (Premiere Vision) I meet directly with the manufacturer and for the 26 years that my brand has existed, I try to work very closely with my suppliers and their ecological commitment convinces me more than the labels.
Your favorite “eco-friendly” quote?
I would like to quote the simple and accurate words of Vivienne Westwood:
“BUY LESS, CHOOSE WELL, MAKE IT LAST”
What eco-responsible action is within everyone’s reach?
I cook a lot and eat only organic, almost vegan. I travel by bike all the time. The awareness that consuming has become a political act. I adopted this quote from a friend of mine: you have to vote three times a day; at breakfast, lunch, and dinner! For me, it's important to consume less, but better.
A not-at-all-eco-friendly gesture that you still continue to do?
I fly to trade shows in Japan, where I sell my collections. It's hard to go any other way...
Our Workshop
A team of 8 dynamic women made up of dedicated professionals split between the design studio and the Parisian boutiques.
After working for a long time on Rue Keller in the 11th arrondissement, next to her first boutique, Anne decided to move. The brand now has its office and design studio in Ivry-sur-Seine, located in the Bertheau factory workshops. These are where the modeling and production teams work.
