By Kira Kolosova
It takes
just a bit more than 2 hours to get to London from Paris by the famous Eurostar
train. However, the homesickness does not care about the hours. The longing for
native soil is known by many people for whom London became a second home. The
sisters Val and Vanda Heng Vong managed to not only find their own little Paris
in Notting Hill but also stylishly transform their nostalgia into a successful
enterprise with a symbolic name, Aimé.
What
inspired you to open your own boutique?
In 1999 when we moved to
London we found that we missed our favourite fashion labels and products from
Paris. The concept of a multi-brand store was born, where we could create a
space where people could find everything from Paris under one roof: clothes,
books, music, candles.
What
was the Parisian label you missed the most when you moved to London?
Everything from Isabel Marant
to Petit Bateau. At the time only big French names were available, which are
very beautiful, but very expensive. We missed all the great and more
reasonably-priced French brands.
Why
did you choose Notting Hill as a place to open your boutique?
It felt like Paris and we
loved the village atmosphere.
What
do you think are the key differences between fashion in Paris and London?
British designers are amazing
for crazy stuff. London has an incredibly creative and vibrant attitude that’s
reflected by its designers. French design is a little more balanced.
What
do you think is the definition of Parisian chic?
French design is always very
chic, even when its casual. It’s got its own identity that you can’t quite
grasp.
What
is it like to set up a business as two sisters?
Val:
“I think it is a real luxury
to work with someone that you love and respect so for me this is my perfect
job. We understand each other without talking.”
Vanda: “We rarely disagree,
but when we do, we usually talk things through. That’s the great thing about
working with someone you know really well. It’s impossible to offend each
other. We complement each other and there are never any uncertainties.”
What
advice would you give to siblings who would like to set up their own business?
You must feel comfortable working with your sibling – it came naturally to us.
Also, you have to be able to be completely self-sufficient and not be afraid of
hard work.
