Aimée Gille

Aimée Gille is a Korean-American dyer and yarn retailer living in Paris, France.

She learned to knit as a child but thinks she officially became a knitter when her mother died. Knitting saved her from grief, depression and solitude, surrounded her with like-minded individuals and helped her find herself again. It is from this love and appreciation for this craft community that Aimée opened L'OisiveThé, a cheery knit cafe in Paris that is still a safe haven for crafters of all backgrounds.

Following the success of L'OisiveThé, Aimée started her own yarn company La Bien Aimée in 2015. As a self-taught dyer she is inspired by her childhood, travels and encounters with other people. She sees yarn as a vehicle for telling stories and sharing experiences, with place and culture holding particular importance. The brand's iconic 'Yellow Brick Road' colour reflects not only Aimée's hometown of Kansas but also her Asian heritage.

As an entrepreneur in the fibre arts, Aimée has found a new path in advising others on the realities of owning a business. She would very much like to extend her skills as a business mentor to aspiring BIPOC makers wanting to take the next step with their art.