Growing up in a rural French village left me little choice but to get creative.
A keen drawer, it was making things from an early age that eventually earned my admission to the École des Arts Déco in Paris, where I studied Graphic Design and Fashion. These formative years not only shaped my approach to design, but also taught me the joy of cross-discipline collaboration.
My inspiration is deeply rooted in materials, colour narrative and the process of making. Working for couture, ready-to-wear, and accessories in Paris, I seized every opportunity to spend time in ateliers and factories, immersing myself in the hands-on aspects of design.
Committed to using my creativity for positive change, I relocated to New Zealand, where I joined Kowtow as Head Designer in 2018.
In this role, I elevated the brand’s Fairtrade Organic Cotton offerings across all categories, exploring the inspiring limitations of a singular fiber by designing every fabric in-house. I also grew the design studio, my team and developed leadership skills.
In 2022, I was appointed Creative Director, where I took on the challenge of leading a value-driven fashion brand, going 100% plastic-free being a key achievement.
Kowtow’s pioneering work in circular fashion provided me with invaluable insights into responsible design and it’s time for a new challenge in that space. I relocated to Malmo/Copenhagen early 2025 to collaborate with value-driven people and brands in the field of design and textiles.
Whether you just want to connect, have a chat or are actively looking for creative collaborators, reach me at marilou.dadat@gmail.com or +46 72 904 86 72.
