A greener tomorrow. In conversation with Anissa Delli
As a French Algerian who grew up in France, later moved to Germany, and now resides in Portugal, you’ve been exposed to diverse cultural experiences. How have these transitions shaped you as a person, and what lessons from each phase do you carry with you today?
The amazing thing about being exposed to multiple cultures, is the different perspectives it gives on everything: everything seen can be apprehended through different views, which is incredibly enriching. Creatively speaking, when I layer those different cultural lenses, it allows me to reinterpret any object into a unique and original way. I love to play around with those different lenses and either see through one single lensed or layer multiple ones for a brand-new perspective. I think that, in a way, it helps me see through some barriers and question traditional frames.
What was the initial spark or personal experience that kindled your passion for sustainability and eco-conscious living?
I have now worked a long time in the industry. When I first started as a home and decor buyer for an e-commerce website, I had to source in China and India, for obvious cost reasons. The minimum quantities we had to purchase were huge! No matter how big those minimum quantities were, if it was certain that the generated profit of the product sold would exceed the stock cost, we would purchase huge quantities, even if a part of a stock would not be sold. Huge number of dead stocks. Neither was I with the fact of purchasing thousands of km away from our market, just for cost reasons.
I indeed realized then that the home & decor industry had the same dysfunctions as fashion: price, fast consumption and power of brands dictate nowadays the market rules. This is sadly true in so many other industries… This leads to unsustainable processes in the end.
Two years ago, I decided I wanted to make a positive impact, and develop a brand which could educate the market into a more conscious way of consumption. The idea of M. Basiques was born!
I indeed think that personal actions are not enough to build a more eco-friendly future, companies have to lead the change towards sustainability and shape an eco-responsible future by showing the way and being a voice.
Your journey seems to be one of constantly pursuing your passions, even if it means shifting career paths or moving countries. What advice would you give to women who are hesitant to take the leap into their passions, based on your own experience?
I would advise to list down the fears and barriers holding you from going after your passion and make a plan to overcome each of them. Indeed, fear can only be overcome through logic ☺ Once the leap is taken, the journey is so insightful and teaches you so much that this will be worth it, no matter what the outcome is 😉
Portugal stands out prominently in your narrative, particularly its craftsmanship. What drew you to this country, and how has it influenced the products of M.BASIQUES, especially the ceramics?
5 years ago, I oversaw developing the home textile sourcing department of a company I worked for in Paris. I was looking to source in Europe, to minimize the carbon footprint of the company. I turned out naturally to Portugal, where I discovered an amazing know-how, fair working conditions, and amazing artisans, who became later friends. I started to work around the materials which were already traditionally produced in Portugal, like Textile or Ceramics, and decided to use this amazing Portuguese know-how and mix it with Parisian aesthetics.
How do you define success for yourself, and how has that definition evolved over the years?
When I started working 10 years ago, my definition was quite generic, defined through financial success & status, which is actually how success is often defined in society. After a few years I realized the definition became much more personal and is defined through any criteria responsible for happiness. For me, this is being able to be creative and to design and make a positive impact through those creations.
Creativity often stems from a myriad of sources. What are your personal wellsprings of inspiration? Are there any daily rituals, books, or experiences that keep your creative juices flowing?
My creative process has evolved over the years. As I started designing, I was calling out for inspiration around me and from my travels. It has evolved now into a more personal approach, where I call out for memories and visual inspiration from my childhood and anything which has an emotional connection for me. I indeed realized this is the only way to make a creation really unique, genuine, and for others to connect with that creation. However, creativity is a process, so the eye needs to be educated and has to travel. There is one good book about how to sharpen the creative process, which I love to reread every once in a while: Steal like an artist from Austin Kleon.
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At the heart of M.BASIQUES lies a story of purpose and change. On a personal level, what has been the most rewarding aspect of this venture for you?
It is amazing to see how much I learned about myself throughout the process, and in general the incredible learning curve that comes from building a business. On a personal level, that is the most rewarding aspect of this venture. On a community level, having even a tiny impact on making the industry a bit more environmentally friendly is absolutely rewarding.
As a woman in the creative and business world, what challenges have you faced, and how have they shaped your outlook and approach to both life and work?
I would say that as for many women and unlike men, the biggest challenge was internal: I had to overcome fear which can then easily translate into a professional challenge.
The other challenge is that building a company takes time and patience which can shake out confidence. Learning to trust the process and protecting my vision for M. Basiques and following it, was key to overcoming those challenges.
Behind every successful woman is often a tale of resilience, grit, and unyielding passion. Could you share a pivotal moment in your life where you faced significant adversity, and how it molded you into the inspiring figure you are today?
I would say every time I had to move abroad, starting over again can be quite overwhelming and challenging at first, which is the same for every change in life, may it be a geographical, professional, or personal. However, every time I get to realize that fear and the reality associated with that fear is just one subjective projection and that I have inside me the resources to cope with the challenge.
This is true for every adversity moment; I now know I do have within me this hidden strength and resource I learned to acknowledge and trust. One of my favorite quotes is from Albert Camus, who says “In the midst of winter, I found there was, within me, an invincible summer”. And that makes me happy. For it says that no matter how hard the world pushes against me, within me there is something stronger-something better, pushing right back.”
This couldn’t be truer 😉