Interview Julien Douzal – Woodlight
Julien Douzal, founder of the Woodlight house, is a craftsman at heart. What he likes is wood. He works it by hand to transform this material, both raw and noble, into a timeless accessory. Humble and passionate, he transmits his knowledge in glasses that are unique since they are rich in stories, customizable and totally ethical.
Discover the history of this 100% French house through its founder.
Can you introduce yourself in a few words?
I am Julien Douzal, the creator of the Woodlight brand. If I created this brand, it is because I wanted to have a job that was related to the material and the creation of objects.
How did you come up with the idea of combining wood, handcrafted design and sunglasses?
Wood is a material that I have always loved and that I love to work with my hands (which also explains the artisanal aspect!). And for sunglasses it’s a bit of a combination of circumstances with on the one hand, a meeting with an optician, and on the other, a previous experience where the idea came to recycle the scraps from the manufacture of skis. wooden crafts.
Was it important for you to make 100% Made in France?
The 100% Made in France stems from a desire to master the manufacturing process from A to Z. It was important to master how we do it and how we do it, and that is why it is is a 100% French creation.
Do you see yourself as an ethical brand?
What I wanted to do at the brand level is something that is eco-responsible in the choice of materials and the design process. This is also why I am the one who manufactures and produces in my workshop. I could decide to relocate and produce further, but the carbon impact would be higher because it is often transport that has the greatest impact. In terms of delivery, I decided to work with colissimo, which has zero carbon impact. Then, to the extent that I am the one who produces from A to Z, it is necessarily ethical. There is a fairly clear traceability at the level of human resources too! (to laugh)
How does a typical day go in your workshops?
A typical day in my workshop is, talking with customers, putting sunglasses into production, sanding, finishing and then … delivery!
What do you think is timeless fashion?
PFor me, a timeless fashion is a product that goes with everything, all the time and does not age over time. The glasses as I make them have a fairly classic shape. These are not models reworked according to fashions. But on the other hand, it is the use of materials and the possibility of being able to customize them. This is what makes the object timeless.
The story of Woodlight is to create products that give people the opportunity to discover a story. First, the story of a craftsman who manufactures in France with materials that are noble. Then the history of materials. Right now, for example, I have a collection with volcanic stone inside a clear acetate. It is therefore a material that tells a story with a real anchorage in the product. Finally, it is also the history of the people since the products can be personalized according to the desires of each one.
Why did you choose Affaires Étrangères ?
We met at a trade show with Eddy. I then discovered his project which is different from “classic” marketplaces. I found that this difference deserved more attention and that’s where this collaboration started!
