Marie-Andree Wallot: An Outstanding Visual Artist, CEO & Chief designer of Wallo Unveils her Passion for Style, Femininity & Fashion 

Ms. Namita Nayyar: Tell us about the brand new Croisiere spring womenswear collection by Wallo?

Ms. Marie-Andree Wallot: Travel was my main source of inspiration. From formal cocktails to relaxed evenings on the deck, my Stand Up collection was created to express women's femininity through her strength and assertiveness.

Inspired by the women who will wear them, I have created unique pieces by drawing, hand painting and digitally refining patterns to be printed on stretch silk charmeuse of the highest quality. My chic and sleek designs and colourful prints exude intelligence, happiness and empowerment.

I selected a silk made from 90% charmeuse silk and 10% Lycra, the result being a material that is tremendously soft, resistant and comfortable. The charmeuse silk that we use offers an amazing depth of colour. Because it is timeless, to me, silk symbolizes the rich and everlasting nature of human relationships. It is soft, light, fresh and silky on the skin - it is a joy to wear. It fluidly follows the body's movements and drapes joyfully and gracefully. Through my paintings, you can see the faces of strong and kind women, rich textures and endless shades of petal pink, fuchsia and purple dancing with azure blue, clay white and neutral tones. Color takes central stage on the lively, eclectic designs inspired by the woman of today.

Ms. Namita Nayyar: What exercises comprise your fitness regime or workout routine that you may like to share?

Ms. Marie-Andree Wallot: Up until my early thirties, I would spend practicing dance 3 to 5 times a week. Later on, I added yoga, pilates, mountain trecking. Then, life took over : kids, house renovations etc. I would say that work, 7 days a week, kept me in a pretty good shape.

Ms. Namita Nayyar: Do you take some special diet or have a strict menu that you follow to remain healthy and physically fit?

Ms. Marie-Andree Wallot: Greens, other veggies, fruits, berries and espresso coffee are certainly the base of my eating diet. Red meat on occasions, Meat and protein almost everyday, rarely desert. All meals prepared with fresh and local ingredients, fine herbs, spices from around the world and always served with a well balanced salad.

Ms. Namita Nayyar: You have glowing skin and gorgeous hair. Do you take some kind of skin treatment to keep it young and glowing and secondly what do you do to your hair to make them look so stunning?

Ms. Marie-Andree Wallot: For as far as I can remember, I never used much make-up. Mascara, translucide powder, eyeshadow sometimes, that's basically it! I have to admit that I've inherited from my mother's side a very good genetic that keeps my skin glowing and young looking. Very thankful for that! For my hair, I only use shampoos recommended by my hairdresser and I have been applying argan oil for over 10 years. I stretch my hair with the heat iron and treat them with a special heat treatment. Finally, the use of a day cream for my skin and a hot tub 3 times a week with my every day accomplice, my dear and beloved husband completes the treatment.

Ms. Namita Nayyar: Tell us about your passion for Style, Femininity and Fashion?

Ms. Marie-Andree Wallot: For me a clothes could be a celebration of femininity, of the body in movement, of the freedom to be and to live. Fashion is all about expression.

To feel beautiful, you have to be comfortable. You have to be comfortable in your own body and in your clothes, but also in your ideas, your emotions and the expression of your creativity. It's the women, but also the women of the world, which inspire me.

In North America and in the big cities, we wear so little color in everyday life! At home and at work, it's almost always black, grey and neutrals. Sometimes, we need to put a little joy in our day and in other people's by celebrating our uniqueness. Color allows us to do that!

We all have a favorite color, a color that speaks to us and represents who we are, but we don't always dare to wear it or use it. With my collection, and through my designs in general, I have decided to let my imagination run free and to use the colors as a source of inspiration for the modern woman. With color in mind and an awareness of urban and international trends, I let my creative and personal instincts guide me. Color is life!