Charlotte's Story

Four generations separate these two photos: my great-great-grandmother Charlotte (left) and me, Éloïse (right).

Charlotte moved to Biarritz in the early 1900s. An immigrant from northern France, a lacemaker by trade, she opened her own haberdashery on Avenue Victor Hugo.

Mercerie Charlotte was renowned for its Haute Couture lace and exceptional buttons, favored by Coco Chanel herself. At the same time, a few streets away, Coco Chanel opened her very first Couture House in Biarritz. Buttons and lace used by Maison Chanel could be found at Mercerie Charlotte.

Later, in the 1950s, my grandfather opened Mercerie Charlotte in the Halles de Biarritz and specialized in selling pleated fabrics known as "Plissés Soleil." Plissés Charlotte were in high demand because, unlike other pleated fabrics in the region, they did not lose their shape over time. The reason? My grandfather Roger repurposed a steam machine into which he inserted the pleats, "breaking" the fold to give it its definitive shape. An innovation for the time!

From 1978, Marie-Jo, then an employee, took over the haberdashery at Les Halles, and then in 2012, Élisa kept the business alive, moving it a few streets away to the Les Halles district. You can listen to her talk about Charlotte's story in this radio show.

Sublime lace, jewel buttons, and exceptional fabrics have delighted the people of Biarritz for over 100 years. As Boutique Charlotte was preparing to close permanently, I decided to dedicate myself to reopening Charlotte. It's a great challenge as well as a great joy for me!

Driven by a love of sewing and beautiful clothes, I am training at the Haute Couture school of the Basque Country, the Escuela Javier Barroeta in Bilbao, and offer Creations, Clothing Transformations, and Sewing Workshops in Bilbao and Biarritz.