Poche Studio Is the Fashion Brand Making Bucket Hats Inspired by Cakes

The idea for Poche Studio — “an atelier that investigates the nuances and constructions of everyday wear and living,” started by Gabrielle Datau and Jiro Maestu — first sparked during an international trip for the two partners in 2014. “After Gabby and I met, we took a six month trip to Japan, Indonesia, and across Europe, traveling with home sewing machines and buying fabric in each location, and then sewing and creating garments along the way,” Jiro tells Teen Vogue over the phone. The trip exposed the duo to all walks of life and helped them rediscover their own “personal landscapes"; Gabrielle is Indonesian-American and Jiro is Japanese-American and French.

Spending time visiting with family and observing life in these distinct places helped give the creative duo a new perspective on everyday life. After the trip, both decided to spend time brushing up on their skills before diving into starting a full-fledged company. Jiro studied couture in Paris while Gabby took sewing and pattern-making classes at a Los Angeles trade school. In October, they officially launched Poche Studio, with a series of pieces that serve as improved versions of items they initially made along their trips.

Exploring the relationships between humans, dress, and other things such as furnishings and housewares, the brand aims to be for “everyday use” and “everyday wear.” They source all of their textiles themselves, in Los Angeles, working with a local, family-run factory. They use mainly secondhand and dead-stock vintage fabrics to make their designs, including button-down shirts and patchwork dresses of sheer fabric, crinkle-silk trousers, sweaters made from recycled knits, and other limited- edition items.

<cite class="credit">Courtesy of Poche Studio</cite>
Courtesy of Poche Studio

Last summer, they added bucket hats of all varieties to their lineup, including reversible cow-prints, felted wool versions with embroidery, floral denim hats, and many others. “We originally made them because I wanted one and we couldn’t find any cool ones we could buy,” says Gabby. In this way, the item came out of a personal necessity, and grew organically from there. Adding little details to the hats along the way, one of their latest bucket hat creations was made with layers of leftover scraps, giving it an exaggerated sense of texture that resembles a colorful cake. “In an effort to minimize waste across the board we really try and save every single scrap and believe almost anything can be recycled or reused,” Gabby adds.

She says she’s always loved bucket hats, even 10 years ago, when people thought they were ugly. “It's something you can express more individuality with or you can play down the whole outfit and wear something crazy on your head,” says Jiro. The duo calls their creation process “magical,” and they often make one-off designs for special events.

<cite class="credit">Courtesy of Poche Studio</cite>
Courtesy of Poche Studio

For example, starting this weekend, the brand will participate in a pop-up event organized by New York-based independent retailer Cafe Forgot, taking place at Stand Up Comedy in Portland, Oregon. Featuring a slew of emerging designers, many of whom upcycle their goods, the pop-up will run until June 8. During the event, Poche Studio will be selling limited-edition products such as mesh tops and tees done in collaboration with an illustrator.

<cite class="credit">Courtesy of Poche Studio</cite>
Courtesy of Poche Studio

When it comes to their design process, Gabby and Jiro call it “emotional,” saying, “We create our own rhythm that doesn't conform or follow any systematic approach like the retail or fashion calendar.” Currently working with a few select retailers, they make it a point to work closely with each store and create things that are specific to their aesthetic and needs.

What’s up next for Poche Studio? Gabby says, “I would love to do more workshops, whether that’s sewing or repurposing clothing, and teach the kids how to sew and be more self-sufficient, because I know when I was younger I wish that I’d had that.” Ultimately, craftsmanship and community remain important to the collaborators in everything that they do.

Originally Appeared on Teen Vogue