“La marin’Hyères©”, Caroline Gourdon's love for Hyères

Originally from Le Lavandou, since her teenage years, Caroline Gourdon has loved the town of Hyères. When she was a child, she would tell adults, “One day, when I grow up, I will live in Hyères.” She made this dream come true in 2020.

As she confides: “There are some towns where you feel at home. My love for Hyères grows day by day, I find this town beautiful, I feel so good here.”

She answers questions from La Gazette du Var. What did you create? Caroline GOURDON.

I created the brand “La marin'Hyères©” on May 5, 2023, and after applying to the Parcours des Arts, I obtained a boutique-workshop, which has been open since May 17. With some great past collaborations? CG.

Indeed, I had already created a first textile brand “Tee-Smiles”, the 100% smile T-shirts. When I arrived in Hyères four years earlier, I was proud to collaborate with Télémartin, Mercato, France Info Télé, CNews, “Touche pas à mon Poste”, “Plus Belle la Vie”. The presenters wore my t-shirts and sweatshirts!

This made my brand take off.

“La marin'Hyères©” in a few words? CG.

I love the French language, poetry, and I have a real passion for wordplay. I have been a fan of Raymond Devos since my teenage years. From November 2022 to March 2023, I went through an ordeal in my life that shook me deeply.

It made me take new initiatives, starting with my brand “Tee-Smiles”. I wanted something new, to set myself a new challenge in entrepreneurship, and thus turn the page on the past.

A few days after this decision, a stroke of luck! I was invited to a cocktail party where I met a professional from the textile industry. This man's background impressed me.

This was a real trigger for me. The very next day, on March 7, 2023, we met again for a business lunch to discuss “Tee-Smiles”. During this meeting, I was wearing white trousers and a striped sailor sweater...

as if by chance!

How was the logo born? CG.

Going back home after this meeting, I was re-energised! Sitting on my bed, my striped sweater on my lap, I was playing with the words “marine - marinière”. All of a sudden, the idea came to me: “La marin'Hyères©”.

I turned on my computer and everything came to me—the idea of the sailor cap with its famous red pompom, the sea—I created the logo in one go. I then made several visuals by placing the logo in different places on photos of striped sailor shirts. Then, I sent my mockup to the person I had met the day before.

I needed his professional opinion.

His words were: “It's brilliant! Go for it! I even think you should stop ‘Tee-Smiles’ to dedicate yourself entirely to this beautiful project.”

Two months later, I registered the brand with the INPI. Was all it took a spark? CG.

This business lifted me up, it gives meaning to my life, because thanks to many collaborations, I have the chance to meet very humane people, I receive a lot of love, it's wonderful, and also, it involves my beloved life, it makes me want to collaborate with shopkeepers, associations, and bring the residents of Hyères together. I also work with two workshops from Var, and I have my own workshop in the boutique. I am keen to break away from the concept of the “traditional boutique”.

I want to give meaning to this brand, as the town of Hyères grants me the right to use the town's name, so I want it to be the brand of the Hyérois, Hyéroises.

What are the collaborations? CG.

The brand “La marin'Hyères©” extends to several items: striped sailor shirts, mugs, candles, bags, caps, and other surprises to come... I collaborated with two shops in Hyères, Cassiopée and Équateur, from August to December 2023. To date, I have collaborated with the resident DJ of Vertigo, Mike Traxx, Le petit glacier Hyérois, l'Écailler de la Rade.

I will begin collaborations with T'Zébré, a Hyérois Concept Store, to create 100% women's After Work events there. I am also going to run Art Therapy workshops with a women's rights association, on behalf of “La marin'Hyères©”. I collaborate with the Guinot institute of Hyères and La Farlède (the beauticians wear La marin'Hyères©), also with Fleurs de Léa, avenue Alphonse Denis, the designer Aura of the Presqu'île de Giens, and the Hôtel La Reine Jane in Hyères (the staff wear La marin'Hyères©).

And many more lovely projects to come!

PLEASE NOTE... The shop is located at 4 rue du Prieuré, in the historic center of Hyères, in the Parcours des Arts.

Soon, you will be able to find “La marin'Hyères©” items at the Office du tourisme de Hyères. “La marin'Hyères©” is present on social media: instagram lamarinhyeres and facebook la marin'Hyères.

You can reach Caroline Goudron by email if you wish to contribute to the development of her business: lamarinhyeres@mailo.

com