From law to fashion: the extraordinary journey of Meryll Rogge

This article is taken from the "Alumni" section of the March 2025 issue of Omalius magazine.

Originally, I wanted to study fashion, but my parents preferred me to follow a more "secure" path. So I started university. I first considered art history, but that wasn't their ideal choice. Then I tried political science, but there was too much statistics for my liking! Finally, I opted for law. I had made a deal with my parents: if I was successful in my applications (that was still the system at the time), I could follow my own path.

Exactly! I started my career in this field.

These experiences have been incredibly formative. The Academy is a very demanding school, where you work day and night. It's the same in the professional world. It takes a lot of sacrifice and long hours. But because I'm passionate about what I do, it never seemed insurmountable. After these years of learning, I launched my brand in 2020, while continuing to consult for other brands.

I like to play with contrasts. Mixing casual pieces with more sophisticated elements, daytime touches with evening touches, blending masculine and feminine influences, combining pop culture with art history. It's always about the tension between opposites.

Yes! I launched my brand in March 2020, right in the middle of COVID. We had just opened the showroom and received quite a few orders. We had to ensure a high level of production, and I was on my own. My parents and brother helped me get everything set up.

We were very surprised and honored. It was a truly wonderful moment for the whole team, because we work very hard every day and it's nice to be recognized by people in the industry. Especially since there were some big names in our category. It makes us feel that we're on the right track and that we need
to keep moving forward.

I remember the great friendships I made. We were a huge group of boys and girls who had a lot of fun together. I also have a special thought for the teacher who helped me complete my applications. As an anecdote, I had a second session to complete. It was the last exam I had to take. When I arrived, there was no one left in the building. I went to the exam room and realized that my exam time was not what I thought it was; the time had been changed by hand and I was confused. I then ran into my teacher in the hallway, who regretfully told me that I had missed my exam slot. However, seeing that the time indicated on the notice board was unclear, he agreed to call back the assistant who was with him and let me take the exam. It is thanks to him that I was able to pass my exams. I am truly grateful to this professor.

I would say that I wish all students good luck, because based on my experience, I know that it's not easy. I'll finish by saying, "Go for your passion."