Adeline admits that, "even today", she's still taking "new steps". A young woman of 32, she grew up in Normandy. Born in Dieppe, little Adeline didn't arrive in Paris until she was 21 to finish her studies. She spent her early years in the countryside, far from the madness of the city. Her daily routine consisted of picking daffodils with her family and then, when the season arrived, "picking mushrooms", and "going to the beach to watch the waves of the spring tides". In short, a fairly simple life, you might think. But no, it's much more than that, it's about learning to connect with nature, living in harmony with the elements and animals.
It's precisely these roots that have shaped Adeline's personality, concerns and values. A model by trade, she is also the author of the blog Mes idées naturelles, a treasure trove for anyone looking to live and consume more responsibly 🌱
Flying on her own wings
While Adeline has always been aware of environmental preservation, in all its forms, her convictions were especially asserted when independence came to the fore at the age of 18. Living on your own means "making your own choices" but also taking "more decisions". So yes, the young Adeline who dreamed of being an oceanographer and for whom Commandant Cousteau was "her idol" is still there as an adult, but she shapes and nurtures her interest in nature differently.
In fact, even in her choice of higher education, Adeline has chosen paths that connect her to the natural environment and, more broadly, to the scientific dimension. And yes, even with the best will in the world, we are sometimes denied the access we would have dreamed of. That's how Adeline, "not good enough in maths", was unable to enter the S stream in high school. But if you thought that would stop her, far from it. She joined a geography degree program in Rouen, then the master's program in management of ecosystems and natural environments in Paris, which enabled her to meet and listen to speakers, debate and talk about subjects that really interested her.
At the same time, Adeline was spotted and propelled into the world of modeling. At first, she reconciled her life as a student with that of a model. Soon after, she went full-time and threw herself completely into the world of fashion. What began as a simple one-year trial turned into a new daily routine. Today, she has been working as a model for 12 years, both in agencies and freelance.
Piergab 📸
While she thrives in her modeling profession, Adeline still wonders about this astonishing mix. She "feels like she has a split personality", her physique posing and serving as advertising to sell, while her mind is against inciting overconsumption. How do you reconcile your job and your personality when they seem so far apart?
Adeline has asked herself this question. Fortunately for her, her path was strewn with loving and enriching encounters. It was a friend who opened her eyes, making her realize that she "needs to eat, pay [her] rent" and that for that, "modeling is just a job". So, although she really enjoys taking part in shoots and fashion shows, it's here that Adeline really gets the hang of it, understanding that it's precisely in her place, in fashion, "where there are so many changes to be made", that she has "the power to raise people's awareness".
It's a combination of reasoning and people who have taught her to put things into perspective, and above all, to let go of her guilt. Yes, working in modeling can be like working for a modern pollution machine, but it's also a job that can only be done when you love it. And above all, the money she earns modeling for brands, she re-injects into a circular, green economy, instead of endlessly feeding the fashion industry.
FINDING YOURSELF
It was also when all these questions were being asked of her that Adeline decided to launch her blog Mes idées naturelles, 7 years ago. Back then, Instagram wasn't what it is today, but blogs were all the rage. What if this was the solution? She, who loves to write, is going to share her advice with as many people as possible.
Realizing that in her new professional environment she "couldn'ttalk about the environment at all", since, by definition, "on a shoot you pose and don't talk", Adeline's determination to rediscover her love of nature and her passion for science became urgent. Her mission is to help those who want to consume better by clearing the way for them, and the aim of her Blog is to raise awareness, exchange and share.
It's true that, at the time, it could be complicated for people to embark on the great adventure of "becoming eco-responsible". And Adeline is well aware of this, having been through it herself when she wanted to improve her daily life. So she sees herself as a kind of big sister or guardian angel for all those who are looking to consume ethically, more responsibly and more sustainably (and who don't want to bother with endless research on the subject). Thanks to her knowledge, she tests, deciphers and makes available all kinds of subjects, from the most specialized to the simplest.
Today, she livesthis duality"much better" and uses it "as a strength, an added value with brands and agencies" so that she is chosen not just for her looks, but above all for her personality.
Adeline also works as a freelance model. She soon decided that this facet of her professional status would be dedicatedsolely to ethical and responsible brands, which she chooses herself and which are in line with her own convictions.
The further down the road she goes, the more things tend to change too. With all the current scandals and concerns, many brands are keen to make changes. Adeline then presents herself as a real asset, an inspiration, and is able to share her knowledge with the teams who work with her, to the point of finding herself giving "mini conferences during lunch breaks". Over time, she has seen the boundary between the "two Adelines" blur.
FLOTTE & ADELINE JOUAN
While Adeline agreed to work with Flotte on the SS22 campaign, she did not shy away from her questions and deciphering to make sure that the brand respected her words. A real interrogation based on "and why not like that?", "and what if you did this instead?"! Our founders, Lyly and Mickaël, were then able to share with him all their thoughts, tests and avenues of research. In short, all the areas of improvement they work on every day to minimize the brand'senvironmental impact.
And in fact, Adeline had discovered Flotte long before we contacted her to shoot the campaign; her discovery even dates back to the very beginnings of the brand!
🔁 Back in September 2020, in Biarritz. Adeline is strolling along and spots a Flotte bag in the shop window (in fact, it was one of our impers transformed into a transportable version). When she spotted the "eco-responsible" label, she wanted to be sure that everything was true, and that Flotte wasn't greenwashing as we see too often today.
One thing led to another, and fate brought us together. We'll say it's a blessing in disguise.
WHY DON'T YOU TELL US (MORE) ABOUT YOURSELF?
Are you a rainmaker or not?
"Average average, but you need rain to get flowers, so we'll say pluviophile" -laughs-.
What's your favorite Flotte raincoat?
"It's hard to choose, I took the Madeleine and I also like the short one with the toile de jouy prints-Anatole-" (But his dream is actually to co-create his own piece with our founders 😏)
Do you have any inspirational personalities you'd recommend we follow?
- Mike Horn, explorer, extreme adventurer, "I really like what he does because it challenges you, and from his expeditions (he's done a lot in the extreme cold) he has an eye for the duration of changes in landscapes, he's seen changes and makes you discover lots of stuff, without setting himself up as a spokesman for the environment."
- Jérémie Villet, wildlife photographer, specialist in cold zones, "he only takes white photos and his pictures are magnificent, he also made a documentary "A White Dream" which was magnificent ".
- "All the marine photo reporters who work for National Geographic help you discover species. And photos are hyper-impactful, more so than long texts."
Follow Adeline on Instagram: @adelinejouan and @mesideesnaturelles 🍃
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