Behind Impasse des Lilas, there is a family story, a passion for knitting, a few ideas that eventually found their way and a great desire to bring beautiful things to light.
But before I tell you about the shop, I would like to tell you the real story.
It all started with an address.
24 Impasse des Lilas.
Before it was the name of my shop, it was the name of the street where my grandmother lived.
An address that accompanied much of my childhood, as I spent a lot of time there when I was little and sent many postcards from it. It is one of those places to which we remain deeply attached, even as the years go by.
When I began to imagine this shop, I wanted to give it a name that told a story, that had meaning, and that wasn't chosen simply because it sounded good.
In the end, I didn't have to look very far.
Impasse des Lilas was a way to keep a place alive, to preserve memories and, above all, to pay tribute to my grandmother.
A shared passion that binds us.
There is something quite special about this story: I never saw my grandmother knit.
When I started taking an interest in knitting in 2021, she already had Alzheimer's disease and no longer knitted.
It was my mother who told me how much she loved to knit, how talented she was, and how important this passion was in her life. She even told me that I might have inherited her talent for knitting!
I would have loved to be able to share this with her. For her to show me her techniques, for us to compare our projects, to talk about modern knitting and circular needles. But we never had the chance.
So, somewhere, I like to think that Impasse des Lilas helps create a small link between this passion that brings us together and the memories I have of her. A way to give her a place in this adventure, even though we never got to knit together.
“An address, memories, and many threads to untangle.”
Now that you know the story behind the name, it may be time to introduce you to the person behind this shop.
I think that when I knit, I love making something with my hands as much as all those little details that go along with my project: choosing a beautiful yarn, finding the right accessories, organizing/storing them in pouches that I love, …
And then, I love discovering other people's work, coming across a brand I didn't know existed, being captivated by its universe, understanding the journey of its creator and wanting to talk about their work around me.
Over time, all these passions ended up coming together.
What if we imagined something different?
For nearly a year, I worked in a yarn shop. It was an experience that allowed me to deepen my knowledge of knitting, crochet, yarns, and everything that goes along with these crafts. I also made one observation: the accessories offered in haberdasheries and yarn shops often come from the same major brands, with fairly classic designs. And of course, these accessories do their job very well! But for my part, I wanted something different: why should we have to choose between a practical item and one we really like?
I dreamed of accessories that were both beautiful and useful, with colors, original patterns, lovely materials, and little details that make our knitting moments even more enjoyable. At the same time, I was discovering independent designers on Instagram with incredible styles who were creating exactly this kind of item.
Little by little, an idea began to take root: what if I brought all these discoveries together in a single shop, entirely focused on knitting and crochet accessories?
Beautiful, useful objects and stories to share.
Before Impasse des Lilas, I had my own entrepreneurial and artisanal adventure with Aelsun Vintage, a project focused on upcycling and second-hand items. This experience made me realize that creating beautiful things is not always enough to get them noticed.
It was also from this desire to shine a light on others that Impasse des Lilas was born: an online boutique specializing in beautiful objects with beautiful stories.
Each product is personally selected, based on a personal favorite, with a focus on independent female creators, French initiatives, and upcycling. My wish? To introduce you to accessories that are as useful as they are beautiful, but also the passionate people behind their creations.
Ultimately, Impasse des Lilas is a little bit of all that: childhood memories, a passion for knitting, a desire to become an entrepreneur, and many personal favorites to share.
I hope you enjoy discovering this world as much as I enjoyed imagining it. Thank you for being here and for also walking a little part of the way in this story. ♡
Léa
Founder of Impasse des Lilas
Impasse des Lilas
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