For me, a sewing machine represents the most absolute means of expression—like a third hand. It’s an object I adore because it renders so many things possible. It’s where everything comes to life. I tend to change sewing machines from one project to the next because I find myself sewing very thick pieces of padding or other fabrics, and I always end up breaking them. I’ve gone through six or seven since I started studying fashion, so I always pick the cheap ones. I like this sewing machine specifically because I painted on it. It appears in the film for my spring–summer 2022 couture collection, where a little boy starts crafting pieces with it.

I never owned a sewing machine before I was accepted into the Chambre Syndicale de la Couture Parisienne, but I taught myself to use ...