Arlette & Maria, a tribute to joyful and pressure-free fashion, to childhood memories, to family summers, to simple gestures.
The story
Originally, a personal story
Arlette & Maria is first and foremost a story of transmission, of women and of sunshine. This brand is above all the story of Matilda, the founder.
Raised by her mother in Paris, she grew up in a world brimming with creativity. With its sidewalk cafes, libraries, and exhibitions, this city has always embodied Discreet elegance, grace, spontaneity.
Every summer, she left the City of Lights to join her paternal family in the heart of Naples. There, everything was different: the light, the smells, the colours, the endless meals, the uninhibited laughter, the human warmth, the naturalness.
It is in this dual culture, this constant and joyful interplay, these two worlds, that she found all her inspiration. On one hand, the understated and refined style of Parisian women. On the other, the generosity and naturalness of Neapolitan women. Two cultures, two rhythms, two aesthetics that respond to and enrich each other.
"I'm fascinated by Italian vintage and Parisian retro: cafés on terraces, croissants in the early morning… My guilty pleasure? Bags and sunglasses." Animal prints, this slightly kitschy mix combined with dark chic. These pieces steeped in history continue to inspire my creations. Italy, with its art of living, its natural elegance, its light and its colors, is a constant influence that I weave into every shoot, every selection or creation.
Arlette & Maria, a tribute to a heritage
Arlette and Maria are the names of Matilda's two grandmothers. They embody transmission, the link between generations, the blend of strength and gentleness. Through them, clothing is never just clothing: it tells a story, it preserves a memory, it transcends time.
- Arlette , his elegant and independent French grandmother. A saleswoman at La Samaritaine in Paris, she passed on to him a taste for well-chosen clothing, the kind that enhances, transforms a look and boosts a day.
- Maria , her Neapolitan grandmother, sunny and tender, who She dedicated her life to her seven children. She passed on to them tenderness, beauty in simplicity, and the strength of caring for others… and for oneself.
Each in their own way, they transmitted to him much more than knowledge: an awareness of the power of clothing on self-confidence .
The adventure through the years
While fashion is Matilda's vocation, it is above all a passion that shapes every aspect of her life. A graduate of the ESIMODE Toulouse fashion school, she was fortunate enough to enter this vast and creative world by collaborating with prestigious ready-to-wear brands, where she discovered the art of garment making and design.
Drawing on her experience and convinced that every piece should have meaning, tell a story and stand the test of time, she founded Arlette & Maria In 2020, driven by a desire to share her inspirations, her passion for simplicity, and her love for elegance, Matilda has since been creating and selecting pieces that capture these emotions, transmit this heritage, and make fashion joyful and accessible.
“My love for fashion isn't limited to trends. I'm fascinated by vintage and my grandmothers' style, those clothes steeped in history that continue to inspire today's designers. Italy is one of my major influences: its art of living, its natural elegance, and its timeless aesthetic resonate in each of my creations. Between a plate of carbonara and a burrata, I find in every detail of this culture an authenticity that deeply touches me.”
Today , Arlette & Maria is a brand that reflects this journey and draws daily on the inspirations of its founder : analog photography, museums and long strolls in colorful galleries, paper mood boards, haute couture shows, her partner's wardrobe, the joy of sharing moments with family, the sun, friends, la dolce vita.
In the follow-up: Mr. Luigi, the timeless masculine (and not only)
Following in the footsteps of Arlette & Maria, Matilda wanted to pay tribute to her grandfather, a quiet strength and a figure of understated elegance. From this heritage was born a unisex collection, made for those who want a solid, simple and timeless wardrobe: Monsieur Luigi .
This is neither a "men's" nor a "women's" collection, but a wardrobe for life: pieces that transcend generations, that defy categorization, and that age gracefully. Here, elegance is synonymous with everyday wear, far removed from fast fashion and trends that fade as soon as they appear.
