Article published in La Voix du Nord on March 30, 2024 by Aurélie Jobard

La Voix du Nord: Portrait of Mommi, Creator of the Italian-French Brand Galileo

On March 30, 2024, La Voix du Nord , a leading regional daily newspaper in Hauts-de-France , devoted an article to the journey of Mohamed Boudjella (Mommi) , founder of Galileo , an Italian-French artisanal designer brand based in Lille-Roubaix .

The article highlights the unique vision of the young Italian-French designer from Lille : "For the young designer Mommi, clothing is an accessory as frivolous as it is necessary." A sentence that perfectly sums up Galileo 's philosophy, where each piece is conceived as a vehicle for meaning and personal expression.

Mommi makes a pair of trousers from her collection to measure for one of her clients in her Lille workshop.

An Atypical Journey: From Italy to Lille

The article traces the journey of Mommi , born in Italy and now living in France, from his beginnings as a model at 18 to the creation of his Franco-Italian designer brand in Lille . A graduate of a two-year technical degree in Marketing Techniques and a professional bachelor's degree in Innovative Textiles from ENSAIT in Lille in 2021, Mommi has successfully combined academic training with practical experience.

Mommi began her studies with a two-year technical degree in marketing and then obtained a professional degree in innovative textiles.

La Voix du Nord highlights in particular his collaborations with renowned creators such as Mlle Agnès (Canal+), Maroussia Rebecq (Andrea Crews) and Amah Ayivi (Marché Noir), who have shaped his unique perspective on Italian-French fashion and textile craftsmanship .

Galileo: An Italian-French designer brand based in Lille-Roubaix

The article presents Galileo as an Italian-French artisanal designer brand rooted in the Lille metropolitan area, more specifically in Roubaix in the Épeule district. This dual cultural identity – Italian through Mommi's origins and French through its location in Lille-Roubaix – is reflected in the brand's aesthetics and values.

La Voix du Nord highlights Galileo 's commitment to responsible and sustainable designer fashion in the Hauts-de-France region . Mommi explains its approach to made- to-order production , upcycling , and using leftover fabric rolls to limit textile waste in its Lille workshop .

At 24, Mommi is both a clothing designer and a model for brands like Cardin.

“Clothing is a key that unlocks other topics: history, colonialism, industrialization, globalization. All these events have shaped our society and our consumption patterns. For me, it is an accessory that is as frivolous as it is powerful.”

Italian-French Artisanal Design: Between Elegance and Streetwear

La Voix du Nord describes Galileo 's distinctive aesthetic: minimalist and oversized cuts in understated colors, blending elegance and streetwear. The article mentions the signature pockets , a hallmark of the Italian-French designer brand based in northern France , featured on jackets, vests, and bags.

The newspaper also highlights the attention paid to exceptional materials : rare Alcantara , Italian and Japanese denim , and natural Italian cotton . These textiles are carefully selected for their quality, strength, and durability, reflecting Italy's textile heritage and the expertise of Northern France.

Unisex Clothing: Anti-Category Fashion

The Lille-based designer says he draws inspiration from his experiences: "I am anti-category. I refuse boxes and labels. My creations have no gender; they can be worn by both girls and boys."

This unisex and inclusive vision of fashion reflects Galileo 's commitment to fashion that transcends borders and conventions, allowing everyone to express themselves freely through clothing.

A Multicultural Identity: Italy, France and Algeria

The article highlights the multicultural dimension of Galileo , the result of Mommi 's journey between Italy (her country of birth), France (where the brand is based in Lille-Roubaix ) and Algeria (her family origins).

“My father could have chosen Algeria, where he was born, but he preferred to uproot himself a third time to secure our future,” recounts the young man, who lives in Mons-en-Barœul , his voice filled with emotion. This family history has shaped the young man, influencing his creative work and reflecting a unique cultural richness.

La Voix du Nord emphasizes that this Franco-Italian identity is at the heart of Mommi's creative vision, combining Italian elegance and textile know-how with the innovation and creative spirit of Northern France.

Passions are born from frustrations.

This family history shaped the young man, even influencing his creations. "When I was little, we didn't have the money to buy quality clothes that would last... So, I always dreamed of being able to wear beautiful pieces. I imagined it so much. I really think it stimulated my creativity. They say passions are born from frustrations. I believe it."

The couturier, who learned the trade later in life thanks to the skills of the trainers at the Résilience workshop and Anti fashion project, also attaches great importance to the material and its manufacture.

Handcrafted clothing in Lille-Roubaix: Expertise and Slow Fashion

La Voix du Nord emphasizes Galileo 's artisanal expertise . Each piece is entirely handmade in the brand's Lille workshop located in Roubaix , with lead times of 1 to 4 weeks reflecting the commitment to excellence and slow fashion .

The 24-year-old moved there in September 2023. Since then, he spends his days there, sometimes even part of his nights. "I sometimes leave around two in the morning. I feel good here and I'm so passionate about what I do that I don't notice the time passing..." Passionate and ambitious.

The article highlights that this Italian-French artisanal design approach is radically opposed to fast fashion and overconsumption, offering a responsible and sustainable alternative rooted in the Lille metropolitan area and the Hauts-de-France region .

Workshop in Épeule, Roubaix: Local Roots and Textile Heritage

The article in La Voix du Nord highlights the importance of Lille-Roubaix in the development of Galileo . The city, where Mommi studied at ENSAIT and where he set up his design studio located in L' Épeule (a district of Roubaix ), became the cradle of this Italian-French designer brand .

Like the old factories that can still be found in Roubaix , the one on Rue Boucher-de-Perthes is steeped in its original character. With its metal staircase, endless corridor, and brick wall, the setting is cinematic. Today, Mohamed, aka "Mommi," rents a small part of the site with two other tailor friends.

The regional daily newspaper thus celebrates the emergence of a new talent in designer fashion in the Hauts-de-France region , contributing to the creative dynamism of the Lille metropolis and to the renewal of the textile heritage of the North .

Media Impact and Recognition in the North

This publication in La Voix du Nord marks a significant step in the recognition of Galileo as a major player in Franco-Italian designer fashion and slow fashion in the Hauts-de-France region . The article introduced the Lille-based designer brand to a wide regional audience in the North and raised awareness of the importance of responsible fashion.

The media coverage in a daily newspaper of this size testifies to the growing interest in committed Italian-French designers and alternatives to fast fashion based in Lille-Roubaix and the Hauts-de-France region .

Contact: 0644042272 or on Instagram Galileo couture.