The Story of Ikatee: A Family and Creative Adventure
In 2016, Stéphanie Godefroy, a mother of three, passionate about children's fashion, and with twenty years of experience as a product manager and collection director, decided to embark on a new adventure by creating Ikatee. Her vision: to offer sewing patterns for babies and children that combine style, comfort, and simplicity.
From the very beginning, Ikatee has distinguished itself through its unique approach, placing creativity and handmade products at the heart of its project. "Ikatee was born from my desire to break away from an often standardized offering and share the sewing experience and the pleasure of making practical and fashionable clothes and accessories for babies, children, and women. Products that can be personalized to make them unique and a little more exclusive," says Stéphanie.
Did you know?
Ikatee is a portmanteau word. Our name comes from Ikats, traditional Asian fabrics with delicate and timeless graphic patterns, which deeply inspired Stéphanie during her many travels. "Tee" refers to the T-shirt. Our name thus embodies the heart of our business: clothing and fabrics.
Ikatee is, above all, a family affair. From the very beginning, Stéphanie relied on the support of her son, Oscar, who was in charge of order preparation, and her husband, Cyril, who served as general manager. This sense of family and collaboration is an essential value, still present in Ikatee's DNA.
Shortly after its creation, the brand participated in its first "Création et Savoir-faire" trade show in 2016, marking a crucial step in its development. This event allowed Ikatee to raise its profile and establish valuable contacts with sewing enthusiasts and industry professionals.
In February 2017, ikatee opened its first workshop at 17 rue du Garet in Lyon, a space that quickly became the birthplace of Ikatee's first fabric collections. Exclusive fabric ranges, designed directly in the workshop, add an extra dimension to the offering.
The Ikatee team expanded in 2018 with the arrival of Camille, who initially joined the company as an intern. The goal of her internship: to develop a pattern for a hooded jacket with cute little ears… Thus was born “Grand'ourse”! This model became Ikatee's iconic design. This creation marked a turning point for the brand, demonstrating its ability to offer innovative and popular designs. Thanks to the success of “Grand'ourse,” Ikatee gained even more notoriety and built a loyal customer base, solidifying its position in the children's fashion sector. Today, Camille is responsible for the design studio at Ikatee, where she continues to contribute to the brand's creative momentum. Her career perfectly illustrates the spirit of innovation and dynamic growth that characterize Ikatee.
Always at the forefront, Ikatee launched "duo" patterns in 2018, allowing you to create matching outfits for women and children from the same design. This initiative has been a resounding success, responding to a growing demand from seamstresses wanting to make coordinated clothing for the whole family.
In February 2021, ikatee moved to new premises at 34 quai Saint Vincent , in Lyon , to support its growth. This new space gives Ikatee the opportunity to welcome more customers and develop new collections. From now on, it is possible to discover the workshop by appointment, enjoy a shopping afternoon, and benefit from personalized support to find the perfect pattern or fabric!
2021 saw other significant developments: the team expanded with the arrival of Virginie, order preparer, and Amélie, sales manager. These new recruits bring valuable expertise and contribute to the company's operational efficiency. Also in 2021, Ikatee unveiled its first collection of "Colorful" labels, designed in the workshop.
In October 2022, Ikatee takes a new step forward with the launch of "Singapore," its first pattern dedicated exclusively to women, with an expanded and more inclusive size range. These pants inaugurate the Women's range, allowing ikatee to expand its brand universe while remaining true to its values of quality and creativity. This launch marks the beginning of a new chapter, affirming our desire to explore new horizons while maintaining our commitment to excellence and innovation.
In 2023, ikatee launched a range of accessories with the Voyage bag, which became the brand's new bestseller, quickly complemented by the equally popular Ikabanana fanny pack pattern and the Eugène backpack.
At the beginning of 2025, ikatee is reinventing itself again with two events: first, the brand's visual identity and logo are getting a makeover with a more contemporary image. Then, ikatee is launching, with the Osaka and Nikko patterns, ikatee Home, a new line dedicated to the home with accessory patterns that are as practical as they are aesthetic. For each room of the house, we will offer a mix of useful everyday creations and creations for decoration!
Ikatee is much more than a sewing company; it's a human and family adventure, driven by passion and innovation, which continues to inspire and support seamstresses around the world.
Discovering the Ikatee team
The Ikatee adventure was born from the vision and passion of Stéphanie, our director and founder. A mother of three with over 20 years of experience in the children's fashion industry, Stéphanie decided to launch Ikatee in 2016 to share her love of handmade products, her passion for sewing, and her desire to pass this expertise on to others.
Stéphanie is in charge of strategy, management, purchasing, and artistic direction, while embodying Ikatee's philosophy: a brand dedicated to quality, creativity, and a love of a job well done. Each project is an opportunity for her to share her passion and inspire others to embark on the adventure of sewing. She continues to create and develop some of the brand's designs.
Stephanie - Creator and manager
The Ikatee adventure was born from the vision and passion of Stéphanie, our director and founder. A mother of three with over 20 years of experience in the children's fashion industry, Stéphanie decided to launch Ikatee in 2016 to share her love of handmade products, her passion for sewing, and her desire to pass this expertise on to others.
Stéphanie is in charge of strategy, management, purchasing, and artistic direction, while embodying Ikatee's philosophy: a brand dedicated to quality, creativity, and a love of a job well done. Each project is an opportunity for her to share her passion and inspire others to embark on the adventure of sewing. She continues to create and develop some of the brand's designs.
Her favorite Ikatee pattern: “Vienna, and the last one sewn, Okinawa”
Her advice for beginner seamstresses? "Two pieces of advice, actually: the first is to not be afraid to get started by experimenting with fabrics and doing tests, and the second is to remember to iron your work as you go through the sewing and production stages."
His passions: art, travel, cycling, and more recently, ceramics.
Camille - Head of the creative studio
As head of the design studio, Camille imagines, creates, and develops Ikatee's exclusive products, from patterns to fabrics, labels, and buttons. Her precision and attention to detail are unparalleled, and this is reflected in the exceptional quality of the patterns she designs!
Her first pattern? Grand'Ourse when she was an intern at Ikatee; it has become an iconic product of the brand.
Her advice for beginner seamstresses? “I would say it’s essential to respect seam allowances. When you’re starting out, you tend not to pay much attention to them and sew with random allowances. But it’s really worth it, at the beginning, to trace these allowances to really understand what they mean. With practice, your eye gets used to them and you no longer need to trace them. This is what allows you to gain precision.”
Camille's little note: "I learned to sew 'the hard way' with magazines that only contained written instructions and no diagrams. I think I would have saved a lot of time if I had learned to sew with Ikatee patterns."
Amélie - Sales and Operations Director
Amélie is the driving force behind Ikatee's sales strategy. She uses every means at her disposal to showcase our products, present them to you in the best possible way, and maximize our sales performance. Specifically, she manages logistics and shipping, defines and implements the sales schedule, and develops our reseller network in France and internationally. Amélie also oversees the teams and human resources. She's also the one who writes you kind words in our newsletter!
Her favorite Ikatee pattern: “London, of course!”
His passions: cycling and, of course, sewing.
Her advice for beginner seamstresses? “Opt for an Ikatee pattern and, as Camille often says, ‘Take your time and apply yourself.’”
Fanny - Product Manager
Fanny started at Ikatee as a sales assistant and customer service manager. Today, she serves as product manager, working closely with Camille to deliver high-quality products with impeccable finishes. Her mission is to support every stage of the product's lifecycle, from design to release. She synthesizes sales analyses, market research, competitor productions, and customer expectations to anticipate the needs of seamstresses.
Her passion for DIY doesn't stop at the office. Outside of work, Fanny enthusiastically devotes herself to various creative activities. "I love sewing, knitting, painting..."
His latest pattern sewn: “Ikabanana in S, in Charcoal gabardine, with a little label, of course!”
Her advice for beginner seamstresses: "Getting the right information and choosing the right fabric makes all the difference in the final project! And start with easy projects to build your skills. YouTube is your best friend. Don't forget to buy the right color thread. And above all, making and unmaking is always work."
Virginie - Order preparer
Virginie is the embodiment of efficiency! As an order preparer, she ensures that each order is handled with care and precision, guaranteeing optimal customer satisfaction. Her attention to detail, thoroughness, and efficiency ensure smooth, error-free order management. Also passionate about sewing, Virginie has become an expert at recognizing all types of fabrics!
His latest pattern sewn: “Paris Kids, for my son.”
Her favorite Ikatee pattern: “Berlin”
Ikatee was born from Stéphanie's passion and is evolving today thanks to you! Each of your exchanges and feedback contributes to our improvement. That's why your opinions, feedback, and ideas are so important to us.
Feedback, an idea, a question?
You can contact us at the following address: contact@ikatee.fr.
Customer service is open Monday to Friday , 8am to 4pm , to answer all your questions. You will receive a response from us within 48 hours , excluding weekends and public holidays.
