Octopoos Factory, synthetic dreads and original clothing for a unique and outside-of-time style.

I am Octo, designer and founder of "Octopoos Factory", a little independent shop based in Le Havre, in Normandy (France). I specialise in the creation of historically-inspired clothes, "medieval steampunk" and tribal psywear, as well as in the making of handcrafted synthetic dreads, and this, since 2011.

I am very present on the internet via several social networks and my two online shops (one of them, this very Etsy boutique) but I also participate in various medieval and craft markets, and in festivals (psytrance, electronic music, alternative). My dream is to roam around Europe with my truck and settle my stall in the most beautiful festivals to make all my lovingly-crafted treasures available to you.

As a matter of fact, my travels and the festivals I have visited so far, have been a great and potent source of inspiration: Old medieval market towns, abbeys, the dark mountains of Switzerland and the deserts of Portugal, the forests of Europe... all and each single one of them so likely to inflame the imagination! I also find inspiration in the Fantasy culture, in History (the Medieval Period most specifically). Nevertheless, I particularly love mixing different styles in order to create truly unique pieces, each one adaptable to the taste and personality of the customer.

I started to sew at the age of 14, somehow by "necessity", since I could not find any outfit I liked in mainstream shops. In the same time, I started to wear synthetic dread extensions that I was crafting myself... That is when my friends started to ask me to create designs, or sets of dreads for them too...

I completed my general studies in high school and in 2011, aged 19, my Baccalauréat exams successfully passed, I officially created the "Octopoos Factory" company. A self-taught woman, I never followed any training or attended a fashion and tailoring school: I learnt alone, observing, trying and testing, unstitching and stitching again. My grandmother was a seamstress; my father, a cobbler; I suppose they passed the creative streak on to me! I then quickly found a small flat in Le Havre, a room of which would be used as my workshop. A young mother, I was painstakingly learning the basics of the process of creation and selling online exclusively... slowly, but surely.
As my daughter was growing older, I could gradually dedicate more time to my work and passion. In 2013, I launched both the official online shop www.octopoosfactory.com and this Etsy shop. I also took the plunge and for the first time started to sell live, on market places; I had a tiny stand. How it developed and grew in size since then! Year after year, I attend an ever larger number of markets and festivals (Cider and Dragon, Dox'Art, Normannia etc ...).
In 2017, "Octopoos Factory" became an officially registered trademark.

I sew all my creations myself, from the first stitch to the last. It all starts with an idea, immediately set down on paper... I particularly enjoy drawing women's clothes, but am now also considering exploring possible designs for men and children!
I purchase large quantities of fabrics in Paris, always selecting higher quality textile fibers, made in France and in Europe. I then undertake the drawing of all my original patterns, in the widest range of sizes as possible. To create a new piece, I aim for perfection, even in the tiniest details, and for the fabric to fall harmoniously. I can re-work, re-cut, re-sew a prototype piece several times in order to obtain the exactly desired finish. Once this prototype is completed and adapted to a variety of sizes and colours, I start making a small production of it, the stock of which I replenish regularly. This enables me to maintain near-permanent supplies, available for orders and markets. All is left to do, then, is to send my creations all around the world!

As for the synthetic dreads, I handcraft all of them, be it for personalised orders or for them to be found in stock, in the e-shops. I can do the fitting in person when I am at my market stand or at the workshop.

My "atelier" (or "workshop") is located in Le Havre, Normandy. Don't hesitate to get in touch if you wish to come and visit! I will be delighted to welcome you there.
Alternatively, please feel free to visit www.octopoosfactory.com to check out the new styles that are not on Etsy.

Enjoy your visit and see you very soon!

Octo.

Octopoos Factory, synthetic dreads and original clothing for a unique and outside-of-time style.

I am Octo, designer and founder of "Octopoos Factory", a little independent shop based in Le Havre, in Normandy (France). I specialise in the creation of historically-inspired clothes, "medieval steampunk" and tribal psywear, as well as in the making of handcrafted synthetic dreads, and this, since 2011.

I am very present on the internet via several social networks and my two online shops (one of them, this very Etsy boutique) but I also participate in various medieval and craft markets, and in festivals (psytrance, electronic music, alternative). My dream is to roam around Europe with my truck and settle my stall in the most beautiful festivals to make all my lovingly-crafted treasures available to you.

As a matter of fact, my travels and the festivals I have visited so far, have been a great and potent source of inspiration: Old medieval market towns, abbeys, the dark mountains of Switzerland and the deserts of Portugal, the forests of Europe... all and each single one of them so likely to inflame the imagination! I also find inspiration in the Fantasy culture, in History (the Medieval Period most specifically). Nevertheless, I particularly love mixing different styles in order to create truly unique pieces, each one adaptable to the taste and personality of the customer.

I started to sew at the age of 14, somehow by "necessity", since I could not find any outfit I liked in mainstream shops. In the same time, I started to wear synthetic dread extensions that I was crafting myself... That is when my friends started to ask me to create designs, or sets of dreads for them too...

I completed my general studies in high school and in 2011, aged 19, my Baccalauréat exams successfully passed, I officially created the "Octopoos Factory" company. A self-taught woman, I never followed any training or attended a fashion and tailoring school: I learnt alone, observing, trying and testing, unstitching and stitching again. My grand-mother was a seamstress; my father, a cobbler; I suppose they passed the creative streak on to me! I then quickly found a small flat in Le Havre, a room of which would be used as my workshop. A young mother, I was painstakingly learning the basics of the process of creation and selling online exclusively... slowly, but surely.
As my daughter was growing older, I could gradually dedicate more time to my work and passion. In 2013, I launched both the official online shop www.octopoosfactory.com and this Etsy shop. I also took the plunge and for the first time started to sell live, on market places; I had a tiny stand. How it developed and grew in size since then! Year after year, I attend an ever larger number of markets and festivals (Cidre et Dragon, Dox'Art, Normannia etc...).
In 2017, "Octopoos Factory" became an officially registered trademark.

I sew all my creations myself, from the first stitch to the last. It all starts with an idea, immediately set down on paper... I particularly enjoy drawing women's clothes, but am now also considering exploring possible designs for men and children!
I purchase large quantities of fabrics in Paris, always selecting higher quality textile fibers, made in France and in Europe. I then undertake the drawing of all my original patterns, in the widest range of sizes as possible. To create a new piece, I aim for perfection, even in the tiniest details, and for the fabric to fall harmoniously. I can re-work, re-cut, re-sew a prototype piece several times in order to obtain the exactly desired finish. Once this prototype is completed and adapted to a variety of sizes and colours, I start making a small production of it, the stock of which I replenish regularly. This enables me to maintain near-permanent supplies, available for orders and markets. All is left to do, then, is to send my creations all around the world!

As for the synthetic dreads, I handcraft all of them, be it for personalised orders or for them to be found in stock, in the e-shops. I can do the fitting in person when I am at my market stand or at the workshop.

My "atelier" (or "workshop") is located in Le Havre, Normandy. Don't hesitate to get in touch if you wish to come and visit! I will be delighted to welcome you there.
Alternatively, please feel free to visit www.octopoosfactory.com to check out the new styles that are not on Etsy.

Enjoy your visit and see you very soon!

Octo.