Q. What was the inspiration behind Bardot?
A: Bardot is founded by Robert Polet, the former CEO of Gucci, who prior to that, worked as the president of the ice cream and frozen foods division of Unilever.
He wanted to create the world’s prettiest and most sensuous luxury ice cream design, inspired by the iconic lips of French actress Brigitte Bardot. That is how our striking lip logo was born. He then wanted to explore this concept around clothing.
The most sensuous yet basic piece of clothing, closest to your body is lingerie. So, it was decided that Bardot will begin with lingerie and then expand to other clothing lines.
Q. Have your Korean roots influenced your designs? How has the Hallyu wave impacted the success of this brand?
A: The Bardot brand originates from France. However, my Korean roots ofcourse are reflected in some of my designs, when it comes to designing a trendy piece of clothing.
Yes, the Hallyu wave did contribute to the success, firstly because I am a Korean actress. Plus, a lot of prominent Korean stars have worn my designs making them popular. For example, an idol from JYJ, the Korean boyband, wore a Bardot design at an airport, and it became popular.
Q. How has your career as an actress influenced your passion for becoming a fashion designer? Also how do you balance both professions?
A. Acting and fashion have always gone hand in hand. Every time I took on a new role, I had to find and put together outfits that suited the character. Over time, this process made me realise just how much I love fashion. No matter what I wore, people were always curious about my clothes, my glasses, and even the brand of my bag.
Actresses often have what’s called an “airport fashion,” and we constantly observe and emulate the styles of these celebrities. This is a natural way to expand our perspective on fashion.
For me, balance comes from doing what I love. It doesn’t feel exhausting because this work genuinely brings me happiness and joy.
Q. What is Bardot’s vision in terms of design? What are the brand’s values and goals?
A. Bardot’s lip products are designed to make everyone feel attractive.
When do we look our most beautiful? When we’re in love.
Bardot aims to encourage self-love and helping people see themselves as beautiful and confident individuals. I want our designs to make people feel like they are glowing, no matter where they are.
Even with lingerie, instead of feeling self-conscious about someone seeing it, we want to create pieces so stunning that people would be proud to wear them. Our goal is to blend timeless essentials with trendy elements, making every style effortlessly chic.
Q. What are Bardot’s plans for expansion in Dubai?
A. The word we heard most often in Dubai was “amazing.”
Rather than sticking to familiar styles, we introduced something fresh – opening doors to a new era of styling. We believe Dubai is the perfect place for that.
Our vision is to create a unique fusion of Parisian elegance and Korean trendiness, something bold yet refined, classic yet striking.
Beyond fashion, we want to take things a step further by integrating Bardot’s aesthetic into cafes and lounges, offering a stylish and immersive lifestyle experience.
Q. What advice would you give to young people aspiring to succeed as actors/actresses or fashion designers?
A. Your passion is only as strong as your desire.
Once that passion ignites, you’ll have the drive make things happen. Ask yourself: What truly makes me happy? What am I best at?
Take the time to reflect and figure out what you love most – whether it’s designing, acting, or something entirely different. Once you’ve found it, don’t look back.
Don’t blame others for obstacles, and don’t live with regret. Just run towards your goal.
Most people hesitate because they’re afraid to start. But if you don’t take that first step, nothing will ever change. If running feels too difficult, walk – crawl if you must. But keep moving towards your final goal.
Along the way, you will meet people who will help you move faster. At the same time, you might be tempted to take detours due to others’ opinions. But if you stay focused and determined, you’ll reach your goal – and when you do, you’ll look back and be proud of yourself.
Be patient. Stay strong. Even if you have to push through tears, those struggles will shape you.
To all the young dreamers out there:
The world is vast.
Time is abundant.
Dream big!
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