Mois Saintéthique 2026 — a review of a promising first edition
A look back at the Mois Saintéthique, Saint-Étienne's first ethical fashion festival: ~60 events, an upcycling runway show, a boutique, and a great collective energy driven by the TRESSE Collective.
April has ended — and with it, the first edition of the Mois Saintéthique.
What is the Mois Saintéthique?
Throughout April 2026, Saint-Étienne hosted the Mois Saintéthique — the first edition of a festival dedicated to 100% ethical fashion, music and culture, organised by the TRESSE Collective (Textile, Responsable, Éthique, Solidaire, Saint-Étienne) with the support of the City of Saint-Étienne and Saint-Étienne Métropole.
~60 events across 40 venues.
Runway shows, workshops, vintage fairs, factory visits, film screenings, brunches, professional meet-ups...
Circular fashion, repair, secondhand, local manufacturing.
Open to the general public and professionals alike, mostly free of charge.
My take on it
It was a first edition, and it showed — in the best possible sense. A little chaotic at times, perhaps, but driven by a collective energy and a sincerity that were genuinely heartening. Having organised this kind of event myself in the past, I can say: you rarely see so many people mobilising so quickly, with so much goodwill, in one place.
It reminded me of Paris Web, Sud Web — those early editions of events that start with a shoestring budget and unshakeable conviction, and end up becoming unmissable fixtures.
I believe that's what the Mois Saintéthique can become.
My participation
Friday 24 April: Upcycling Runway Show "La main dans le sac"
La Commune, Halles Mazaret — 8:30 pm.
Three of my pieces walked the runway that evening.
The "C'est ASSE(z)!" duo: Isocèles and Vagabondages, born from a football pennant and a vintage jersey found at Trincamp, and green and white leathers rescued from Sibel Leather.
It's hard to imagine a better tribute to the city, its textile history, and the upcycling spirit that drives it.
And "Composition": a homage to Mondrian, from the Wearable Art collection.
I'd been asked whether I was comfortable with male models. I said yes immediately — my bags aren't gendered, they never were. Seeing them carried on that runway felt right. And when I met the models on the day, I found out they were ASSE fans — which made the whole thing even more perfect.
It was the first time I'd seen my work carried on a stage, and honestly, my hands were shaking a little as I filmed from backstage. Would do it again without hesitation.
All of April: Creators' boutique and HQ
I loved being at the centre of things alongside other makers, and having a physical showcase for the month. And of course, the direct contact with visitors and curious passers-by — that's essential.
There's something to formalise here, to structure better for future editions, maybe even in the quieter times between them... the momentum is there.
Saturday 25 April: Mend in Public Day
Place Waldeck Rousseau — 2 pm to 6 pm.
That one didn't happen — I was ill and couldn't make it :(
The one that stings, because the idea really mattered to me: repairing bags in public, as a visible act of resistance, in the spirit of Fashion Revolution Week and the anniversary of the Rana Plaza disaster.
It's only postponed — this is a format I want to champion next year.
The professional days
The Mois Saintéthique also included days dedicated to industry professionals. I took the opportunity to learn two techniques I'd never tried before: Boulogne stitch embroidery and tufting. Exactly the kind of moment that feeds me. Not necessarily to integrate these techniques directly into my work, but to understand other ways of making textile and gesture speak to each other.
The closing ceremony — at PIC
At the end of April, the closing event was held at PIC (Post Industrial Crafts), a Saint-Étienne company that melts down car headlights to create design lighting and furniture, using robots from automotive production lines converted into giant 3D printers. Yeah, you read that right.
Large-scale industrial upcycling, with an unexpected elegance.
The evening brought together the Mayor of Saint-Étienne and several local actors in the upcycling space. The kind of gathering that reminds you that the circular economy isn't limited to independent makers: it's also driven by companies reinventing their own tools of production... and political will.
And in five years?
On 27 May, a review meeting with the collective. We dreamed a little — a lot, actually — and I think that was necessary.
We dreamed of a Mois Saintéthique that, five years from now, would be officially recognised, would reach beyond the Loire, nationally and perhaps internationally. One that would be (and this may be the most important part) even more rooted in training and knowledge-sharing — because circular fashion needs a new generation, not just first-wave activists. We dreamed of high-profile patrons, year-round dedicated venues, a presence in the national press...
Ambitious? Yes.
But I've seen what this collective can build in a few months.
Thank you again to the TRESSE Collective for the invitation and for what they're building. I hope to be there from the very start of the next edition. 🤞
And if you'd like to support them — you can become a member here.
