An Interview With Andrea Ricci
“Focusing on what you believe in will always get you through.”
Written by: Charlotte Green & London Green
Introduction:
Andrea Ricci moves with intention. Based in Montreal, Andrea Ricci is a creator whose path has been woven through music, modeling, and content creation before ultimately landing in fashion, where she feels most aligned with herself. What stands out most about Andrea isn’t just her aesthetic, but the clarity with which she understands who she is and how she wants to show up in the world.
I first came across Andrea through her online presence: effortless, restrained, and quietly confident. I loved the way she approached style: never loud, but deeply intentional and simplistic. I admired her taste and style, which eventually led me to interview her. Asking the questions, I feel many people wonder when they see someone building something authentic, as I know I was interested.
Growing Up Creative:
Andrea grew up in Montreal, a city that has seemed to shape her personal direction. She explored the music industry professionally, even moving to Los Angeles for some time to pursue her music career. She did this through writing, singing, and even signing to a label, but over time, she began to realize that while music mattered to her, it didn’t fully reflect how she wanted to express herself.
“I think I always wanted to have something of my own,” she told me. “I don’t know if it was going to be a brand or if I just wanted a career where I’d be my own boss, but I knew I wanted to be independent. I didn’t want somebody telling me what to do.”
Fashion, she explained, felt it gave her space to express herself without the pressure she felt performing on stage, and it aligned more closely with her long-term vision.
From Observation to Intention:
By the time Andrea launched her own brand, Jéa, she had already spent years working within the fashion industry. That experience shaped not only what she wanted to create, but what she wanted to avoid.
“I had worked in fashion for a really long time before starting my own company,” she said. “I had analyzed all the things that I thought were difficult or that I didn’t want to be a part of.”
She recalled seeing a certain brand struggle with excess inventory and sizing issues, and how that directly influenced her decisions in her own brand. “When it came time to make my own company, I knew that I didn’t want to do any sizing… so I did a one-size-fits-all product, or home accessories, things that don’t need sizing.”
Because of that preparation, starting her business felt more manageable than she had expected. “It wasn’t as hard as I thought it would be,” she said, “because I positioned myself to avoid the issues that bothered me the most.”
Creating Atelier Jéa:
The name Jéa came quickly to Andrea, as did the initial concept behind the brand. The execution, however, required waiting.
“The idea came very fast…the name came easily, and the product itself came easily,” she explained. “But actually making the product took a long time. Figuring out where I was going to make it, where I’d find the materials I wanted, how it would fit the way I imagined, that took much longer.”
Her ability to see issues and use them to refine her products reflects Andrea’s broader philosophy around fashion. For her, style is about authenticity and restraint. She believes the biggest mistake someone can make is wearing something that doesn’t feel true to who they are.
Her own aesthetic leans toward tailoring, clean silhouettes, minimal color palettes, and elevated basics that form the foundation of her wardrobe.
Old Hollywood and Lasting Influence:
When I asked Andrea about her visual inspirations, her answer reached back into childhood. She spent her summers at her grandmother’s house while her parents were working, watching old movies instead of the popular films her friends loved at the time.
“I grew up around old Hollywood movies,” she said. “Audrey Hepburn, Grace Kelly, Lauren Bacall. I thought they looked amazing and beautiful, and I think that influenced how I dress today.”
Those early impressions stayed with her, evolving over time. Runway shows, especially from the ’90s and early 2000s, also played a role, but in summary, her inspiration began young. “Everything starts when you’re really young,” she reflected.
On Confidence:
Although she projects confidence, it wasn’t something Andrea always had. In fact, it was her struggle with stage fright that ultimately pushed her away from music.
“I couldn’t continue because of stage fright,” she admitted. “I wasn’t able to express my true self on stage.”
Fashion felt safer, but it was also another platform for her to express herself in a way that resonated with her. Being behind a camera or sharing content online was easier than performing live. Over time, her confidence came through consistency and validation.
“You slowly trust your taste,” she said. “You trust what you’re doing. Of course, you get negative feedback sometimes, but if you believe in your work, with time it comes.”
She emphasized that confidence wasn’t innate for her. “I was very shy and scared of being in front of people,” she said. “But slowly, you build it.”
The Hardest Moments:
When I asked about her lowest points, Andrea didn’t point to a single career setback. Instead, she spoke about navigating personal hardship while still needing to show up publicly.
“Going through personal things in your life, that’s the hardest,” she said. “You still have to take pictures, take videos, put makeup on, and look like nothing is going on.”
What keeps her going is perspective. “I tell myself it’s such a small part of the story. I’m not going to pause my entire life because I’m going through something personal.”
Her advice is simple but meaningful: to keep going. “Focusing on what you believe in will always get you through.”
The Small Choice That Changed Her Life:
One of the most pivotal moments in Andrea’s career started as something she was unsure about. When she was still focused on music, her agency encouraged her to post consistently on social media.
“I thought it didn’t matter,” she said. “I was like, who’s going to care?”
They pushed her to post fashion content instead, and that small decision changed everything. “Posting on TikTok is how I started social media,” she explained. “It ended up building my brand and my following.”
Looking back, she sees how easy it is to underestimate small actions. “If I hadn’t listened, I wouldn’t be where I am now,” she said. “I really love what I do, so I feel lucky.”
It can be important to look back and reflect on how such small decisions can change your whole life, the butterfly effect.
Advice for Entrepreneurs:
For anyone hoping to start their own business, Andrea’s advice begins with understanding what's missing in your own life.
“Look at what’s missing in your own life,” she said. “If you wish something existed and you can’t find it, it’s probably missing in someone else’s life too.”
She also emphasized the importance of social media, not as an investment in money, but through time and energy. “It’s the most important tool right now,” she said. “It can be a curse, but it can also be a blessing.”
Some Travel Advice:
Travel continues to influence Andrea’s sense of style, and one city stands above the rest. “Paris,” she said, “It’s effortless. People don’t look like they’re trying too hard, but they look incredible.”
She’s drawn to the contrast between old and new, the historic architecture paired with modern life.
Back home in Montreal, she recommends a few places: L’Express, for its Parisian charm; Honnêtte, a newly opened boutique curating designers like Dries Van Noten, Armani, and Gucci; and the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts, especially its architecture and Art Deco collections, including Josef Hoffmann.
In conclusion, Andrea Ricci’s story is not about overnight success or following a specific formula. It is about paying attention to your instincts, your discomforts, and the quiet pull toward what feels true to oneself. Through patience, self-trust, and a willingness to evolve, she’s built a life and a brand that feels like her own
Instagram: andrea____ricci | atelierjea
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