BEHIND BARNIE

BEHIND BARNIE: NINA JOUAN ZANETTI

If BARNIE has become the brand it is today, it is also thanks to those who support Delphine and Edouard on a daily basis. Each member of the team, with their story, their expertise, their talents, their personality and their aspirations, brings a singular energy that has been shaping the brand day after day for five years now. Because BARNIE would not be BARNIE without its teams, we have chosen to shine a light on those who bring it to life. For this sixth edition of Derrière BARNIE, Nina, our Pattern & Quality Manager, agreed to take part in the interview.

Behind every BARNIE piece lies an attentive eye, an exacting attention to detail and a true savoir-faire. Parisian by birth and Lyonnaise by adoption, Nina, 37, guides each creation up to its final version, driven by her love of craftsmanship and beautiful pieces. Curious and epicurean, Nina draws her inspiration from her travels, the cultures she discovers across the four corners of the world and the moments shared around a good table. A personality that is at once precise and passionate, bringing to BARNIE her expert eye and her pursuit of beauty.

Hello Nina, could you introduce yourself?

My name is Nina, I'm 37 years old. I was born and grew up in Paris. I've had several professional lives, but they have always been connected, one way or another, to the world of creation. I first worked in luxury costume jewellery, notably for the houses of CHANEL and SAINT LAURENT as a jewellery prototype maker. I moved to Lyon about ten years ago. I fell completely in love with this city, and it's also where I chose to change direction: I went back to study to become a pattern maker, then I set up a company specialising in textile project development and garment manufacturing. It was during that period that I met Delphine, with whom I had the opportunity to work. Three years later, I joined the BARNIE adventure.

What is your role at BARNIE?

I am Pattern Maker & Quality Manager.

WHAT DOES IT INVOLVE?

I support garments from their development up to their production launch. I produce the technical files and measurement charts for our suppliers, then liaise with them throughout the process to ensure every technical detail is respected.

I then ensure the garments are perfected to achieve the ideal proportions. I check, measure and comment on the prototypes so that they meet our standards. Finally, I oversee the quality of the materials and finished products. What I enjoy most about this role is finding the right balance between creative intent and the reality of the product.

YOUR FAVOURITE MISSION AT BARNIE?

It's the moment when sketches come to life. Successfully translating a two-dimensional drawing into an actual three-dimensional garment is what I love most. When the first prototype arrives at the studio, there's always a slightly magical feeling: you finally discover the volume, the drape, the proportions… It's a moment I truly cherish.

WHAT IS THE DETAIL THAT NO ONE NOTICES ON A GARMENT BUT WHICH, IN YOUR OPINION, MAKES ALL THE DIFFERENCE?

For me, a beautiful garment is all in the details. Finishing is everything. I'm very attentive to the way a garment is assembled: a beautiful seam, a clean finish, a carefully considered interior… These are things you don't always consciously notice, but which immediately give an impression of quality.

What drives you most outside of work?

Travel, without hesitation. It nourishes me enormously, through the discovery of cultures as much as craftsmanship, landscapes and cuisine. I love places that are a little off the beaten track, unusual spots with a story to tell. I also love cooking. I often bring back spices or ingredients from my travels, which I then enjoy incorporating into my everyday cooking. It's a way of extending those discoveries and sharing them over a good meal with friends.

How would you describe your personal style?

Difficult question… I'd say: simple and effective. I love clothes made from beautiful fabrics and, above all, well cut (an occupational habit, no doubt).

For me, a good garment is a piece you keep loving and wearing years later without ever tiring of it. That's exactly what I find at BARNIE: beautiful fabrics, beautiful cuts and pieces that stand the test of time.

WE KNOW YOU'RE AN EPICUREAN AT HEART — COULD YOU SHARE SOME OF YOUR FAVOURITE SPOTS IN LYON?

Bleuvert, is my favourite local bistro. The menu is hearty and unpretentious, and the terrace is really lovely.

I also always come back to la Brasserie Georges, which remains for me an essential Lyon institution. I love its atmosphere and its incredible Art Deco dining room. It's the perfect place for a get-together with friends.

I also absolutely loved Murmures, which I recommend wholeheartedly.

I was lucky enough to recently discover the Michelin-starred restaurant Le 14 Février. More than a meal, it was a true journey — both culinary and cultural — with a wonderful immersion into the Japanese world.

And because I'm a huge fan of Asian cuisine, I simply have to mention the bò bún from BÀ NỘI.

I could go on for a long time… Which is probably why people often ask me for good restaurant recommendations!

Three pieces of content or Instagram posts that have inspired you recently?

I really love the account @Madofficial, which offers great content on craftsmanship and creation in all its forms.

I also enjoy @Lesothers. Their images are beautiful and make you want to travel, and you learn things along the way.

I follow @Culinarybackstreets, which explores local cuisine around the world. It's another way of travelling and a wonderful source of inspiration.

Is there an image that has stayed with you and never left you?

I studied art history and The Virgin and Child by Jean Fouquet has always fascinated me. I find this painting extraordinarily modern in its treatment of colour and volume, considering it was painted around 1450. The cherubs almost look like little plastic figurines, and the Virgin has a silhouette that could call to mind certain very contemporary ideals of beauty. It is precisely this sense of anachronism that I particularly love about this work.

A series you absolutely shouldn't miss, in your opinion?

Without hesitation: The White Lotus. I loved it! I love the slightly sardonic tone, its caricatural and larger-than-life characters, and the way it blends social satire, suspense and a paradisiacal setting. Impossible to switch off.

YOUR FAVOURITE PIECE FROM OUR SPRING-SUMMER COLLECTION?

The embroidered Louis jean, which I think is particularly successful. But if there's one piece I wear the most, it's without hesitation the Jenny Boy. I love the cut — I find it incredibly easy to wear and to style for everyday looks.

AND THE ONE THAT GAVE YOU THE MOST TROUBLE?

The Eleo tailored trousers from the Belles Occasions capsule. The fit of the prototype wasn't what we wanted, and we no longer had time to make a new prototype before the shoot. So I completely unpicked the trousers to recreate the volume directly from the measurement chart. It was a real challenge, but the piece was ultimately ready to be worn for the photoshoot. A great achievement!

To close this sixth edition of Derrière BARNIE, we hope that this encounter with Nina has allowed you to learn more about the team. Discover more portraits that bring the BARNIE universe to life very soon.

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