Handmade swimwear by Mimi Hammer

Mimi Hammer was created two years ago by Camille Forcherio, a Fashion Design graduate from LaSalle College in Montreal. She took further classes in swimwear, lingerie, sewing and pattern making. It took three collections to come to the right conclusion for Mimi Hammer. Aesthetic, feminine, timeless with a touch of thoughtful detail.

Have you created all the designs from the current collection yourself? Do any designs come from outside of the brand?

I create all the swimsuits myself alone in my workshop.

What made you decide to focus on swimwear?

I guess it just happened that way, I didn’t decide one day to do swimwear but I was just leading on that way after I took a course of swimsuit in a private sewing school.

Would you say your work is directed at a particular trend or group of people?

It’s very hard for me to answer that question because I mostly sell online and I don’t have a direct contact with my customers.

Which of your current designs is your favourite and why?

My favourite design is from my first official collection with Mimi Hammer, a black one piece with very long fringes.

We love all your high waisted pieces, how did you settle on this design? Are they more popular than others?

The high waisted bottom has been very popular so far; I think a lot of people are looking for that design now. It’s another way to wear a two pieces swimsuit. I also try to show them with a younger and actual vision so people don’t see it too much as an old-fashioned style.

Please tell us about the creative process that went into your current collections. What techniques were used?

For the first time in the S/S’13 collection, I added custom prints in my selection of fabric, so I guess my creative process started when I decided which print would be in the collection. Then, I drew some suits and the magic really happened when I started sewing the samples. I know a swimsuit is a Mimi Hammer when I put it on myself. I usually make a lot of samples and then choose the best of them to be in the collection.

What are a few of your likes and dislikes in terms of design and style aesthetic?

I really like designers that put a lot of thought into details. I am a huge fan of Valentino pieces, which are really romantic and feminine. I also like minimalist, thoughtful design. I’m not that into designs that are unwearable or trashy looking.

How do you personally feel about fashion, and how do you use it to express yourself?

For me, fashion is a work. I never thought of sewing or designing for myself, only for others. I think that people can see what kind of person I am when they see my designs.

What has been the highlight of your careers so far?

My career with Mimi Hammer is so young and I feel like I have a lot to learn about being a designer but this year has been very great so far, we had a lot of blog reviews and a big article in La Presse which is the biggest French journal in our country.

Do you have a team working with you to help manage the brands?

I started Mimi Hammer with my boyfriend, Joao. He works better in the management area and leaves the creative part to me. I also recently recruited one of my childhood best friends who studied in Communications and Social Media; she will be part of the team very soon to help us.

Have you any plans for the future? When can we expect your next collection and where do you hope to be in five years?

I love watching Mimi Hammer growing up, and I would also love to see the brand in boutiques around the world. I have already started working on the S/S’14 collection, which will be ready for August 2013 but not made public before March 2014.

Elizabeth Finney

For further information on the collections, visit Camille’s Etsy shop here.