ABOUT CÉLINE
MEET THE FOUNDER
I believe in the power of simplicity, quality, and sustainability in everything we consume. By "everything we consume," I truly mean everything. My father taught me that it's better to consume less, but to choose good quality. I can vividly remember the look, the smell and the taste of that first in season strawberry from the garden as a child. Can you?
These values are reflected in the Italian way of life, maybe one of the reasons I'm so passionate about this country, and they form the foundation to redefine fashion, my other passion. I believe that sustainable fashion should be the norm in all respects—environmental, social, and economic.
That's why I started RILABEL. A brand that chooses the most sustainable option in every step of the process from design to customer. All items are locally produced in Italy through recognized craftsmanship under good working conditions. By being transparent, providing information, and involving you in the process, much greater awareness will be created.
The first products
Italian knitwear
The first collection arrived in February 2024. As a solo entrepreneur, I was able to test on a small scale how the chain from development to product to client worked. With the experiences gained over the past months, RILABEL stands at the forefront of a sustainable fashion movement. I'm looking forward to connecting with you, exploring the possibilities of collaborating with other Italian producers and working together with physical stores.
The search
Entering the world of fashion
I could dream about RILABEL for days, but it was time to turn it into reality. I knew that if I didn't act now, it would never happen. In the summer of 2022 I took a vacation from my corporate job to write my business plan and then began the search. After many attempts to reach Italian producers, I decided to meet them in person. My trip to a fair in Florence in 2023 led to the first encounter with potential producers, and eventually, I found my knitwear producer in Venice. Together, we created the first samples and went into production.
The first steps
COC Registration
I took the leap to bring my dream to life by registering my brand with the Chamber of Commerce and officially making the first steps. I was also eager to complete my master's in Financial Econometrics while working as an intern for the big corporate EY. However, the world stood still for a while due to COVID. I was lucky to be the only one starting as an actuarial consultant during that time, a job with promising prospects, but my heart was somewhere else. This brand was my passion, the purpose my grandfather used to speak about.
The inspiration
Italian volunteer organization
In the winter of 2016 I was inspired by a story on Dutch television news about an Italian volunteer organization that helped women in need by providing them with jobs in sewing workplaces. Although I had started my bachelor's in Econometrics, a field with promising career prospects, a little fire started to burn because of my passion for Italy and high-quality sustainable fashion. I began to envision my own fashion brand that could make a difference in environmental, social, and economic aspects. I even came up with the name: RILABEL.
My grandparents
A Life lesson
My beloved late grandfather always advised me to consider my role in society. He made his contribution as a general practitioner and encouraged me to find my purpose. I had just started my bachelor's in Italian Language & Culture, a country I was passionate about, but I was searching for my path in life. Little did I know then that I would complete my master's in Financial Econometrics in 2020 and become an entrepreneur.
Our values
Choose well. Buy RILABEL.
RILABEL is dedicated not only to designing sustainable and high-quality yet still attainable essentials for women to build a capsule wardrobe but also to redefining the standards in the fashion industry.
We minimize environmental impact through local production using 100% certified natural monomaterials and provide fair and ethical employment in Italy by partnering with local artisans. We hold craftsmanship, planetary respect, and social responsibility in equal regard and will continue to evolve.