In 1979, Monique Giraud left Cannes for Saint-Barthélemy. She never looked back. On the island, everyone called her by her childhood nickname: Poupette, meaning “little doll” in French. Sixteen years later, it was under this name that she launched her own clothing line. BARNES Saint-Barthélemy looks back at the story of this brand born in Gustavia, now a global name in luxury resort wear.
A globe-trotter and self-taught designer, “Poupette” Giraud settled in St Barth in the late 1970s. The island became her home, and her first boutique opened in the garden of Le Tamarin, the restaurant she owns in Saline. The idea was straightforward. Create the perfect wardrobe she would wear herself, and share it with other women.
Poupette St Barth was founded in 1995. Every piece is entirely handmade in the brand’s workshop in Bali, by artisans trained in traditional dyeing, embroidery and screen-printing techniques. A single craftsperson completes each garment from start to finish.
Poupette St Barth is a luxury beachwear label you can spot at first glance. Flowing silhouettes, V-necklines, off-the-shoulder cuts, ruffles and pleated details all come alive in the brand’s signature prints, with bold colours inspired by tropical light. The style is boho-chic, free-spirited and effortlessly elegant.
The logo itself draws inspiration from the frangipani flower that grows in the founder’s garden, a symbol of femininity and renewal that she has made her own.
The Poupette St Barth flagship store opened in Gustavia in 2000, at 13 rue de la République, marking the beginning of a global expansion. Today, the womenswear and girls’ collections are sold in over 220 locations worldwide, including its own boutiques in Saint-Tropez, Cannes, the Hamptons and Palm Beach. They are also stocked at Saks Fifth Avenue, on platforms like MyTheresa and Shopbop, and on the brand’s official website.
Despite its global reach and over 55,000 Instagram followers (@poupettestbarth), the brand remains rooted in St Barth, where the original Gustavia boutique still welcomes clients.
The Poupette St Barth boutique on rue de la République, open Monday to Saturday, sits right in the heart of Gustavia’s shopping district, between the jewellers on rue Oscar II and the galleries of the Carré d’Or. It is a neighbourhood our clients are particularly fond of, where everything is within walking distance. To enjoy this neighbourhood during your stay, our agency can help you find the right property for rent in Saint-Barthélemy, in Gustavia or on the surrounding hillsides.
And if Poupette’s resort wear makes you want to call St Barth home, our agency can also open the door to the finest properties for sale in Saint-Barthélemy.
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