Please tell us something about yourself! Who are you, where do you come from, how old are you, what do you do for a living?
Hey – I’m Richard, I’m 20 years old and I started Vrai Ou Faux. Other than running Vrai Ou Faux I am in a UK rock band and both projects keep me pretty busy!
When did you start Vrai Ou Faux?
I officially started trading in October 2012 having spent the summer after college working on the designs, photo shoots and the website. However, for me Vrai Ou Faux started in my second year of college as just a simple motif for t-shirts I started designing and printing for myself. I quickly thought why stop there – I’ve got designs I want to share.
Over the 6 months following the first release in October I learnt a lot about design, fashion, web design and business. Despite its initial success I took the website down after 8 months to regroup and re-launch having learnt what Vrai Ou Faux meant to me and where I really wanted to take it.
4 months of design, photo shoots and hours and hours of editing later came the NTVE collection and a fresh start for Vrai Ou Faux in October 2013.
What’s the aim of the game?
Short term – Provide a clean, fresh style for the young, the creative, the inspired, the traveler, the entrepreneur – the student.
Long term – Increase our product range, build a community, get involved with events and support great causes. To give something back.
What does Vrai Ou Faux mean to you?
It started as a saying I remembered from my French lessons at school but it’s evolved to encompass and signify a lot more for me. I think the best way to put it is as a question, to question things as to not become complacent – Almost a reminder to try to distinguish good from bad because it’s easy for the lines to blur!
Who’s behind Vrai Ou Faux?
I built Vrai Ou Faux by myself but since it’s start friends,family and industry have helped along the whole way with support and advice which has been invaluable to me.
I also can’t thank our incredible team of models enough for working long days in difficult conditions while still looking amazing!
What’s the meaning of your logo?
The current logo is an embodiment of the current NTVE collection. We will develop a new collection at one point in the future and the NTVE era will end to allow the brand to grow and develop. A new logo will accompany the next era also!
Do you speak French?
Sadly I’m not as fluent as I would like to be! I had lessons and spent a lot of my childhood in France but I have lost a lot of what I was capable. I do hope to live in France at some point in my life though.
Who’s responsible for your web design, photographs, etc.?
We keep all our product design, web design and photography in house. The majority is done by myself.
How would you describe the Vrai Ou Faux style?
Simple – Clean – Monochrome
Why did you choose Spreadshirt for your project?
Spreadshirt allows me to keep things moving, always designing new products and widening our product range. You guys are great!
Let’s talk business… What’s your marketing strategy?
We like to keep our cards close to our chest business wise! However, I can say with my personal interest in music we do plan to become more involved in the UK music scene working alongside artists, venues and events. Maybe we’ll see you at a festival next year!
Where do you see yourself in 4 or 5 years?
I see Vrai Ou Faux in its second or third reincarnation having evolved, grown and developed a large following with myself managing it on the road while on tour with my band… hopefully!
Thank you for this juicy interview!
For more information about Vrai Ou Faux, go and check out their Facebook and Twitter accounts!
Hello Nina…
Nice ideas sharing.