When Isaac met MarcÂ
It all started with a chance encounter. Isaac Larose Farmer, party aficionado from Quebec, and Marc Beaugé, journalist from Paris (Le Monde, les Inrockuptibles, SoPress), met at a friend’s dinner party. After chatting about clothes, architecture, and books, they quickly realised they shared the same references. It was love at first sight for Marc, who later e-mailed Isaac proposing to collaborate on a project: “Would you want to do a brand together?†A meeting was called, a few ideas were thrown around, and again, they left it up to chance. Each wrote down 3 items, and if there was a match, they would run with it. It could have been small leather goods, or gloves, but their round of Russian roulette revealed a common passion: five panels. Marc humbly suggested Isaac’s name and well, the rest is history.
They had the brains; now, they needed the hands. After doing some investigation (scouring fashion blogs and phonebooks), Marc and Isaac found their girl: Pauline Brosset, a young apprentice to a Lanvin master and bespoke hat maker. Pauline later joined on as a full-time partner, and 2 became 3. Call it fate. The guys launched their first season in September 2012 with one model and 600 caps. They’re growing slowly but surely, and gaining even more momentum, with the help of a recent collaboration with ami. They’ve also been picked up by hipster boutiques like Opening Ceremony in Manhattan and Centre Commercial in Paris and featured in magazines like Le Monde, GQ and NYmag.
Thanks to Larose, five panels are making a serendipitous comeback. But were they ever really gone? Still, Larose is putting its own stamp on the trusty ball cap: shorter brims, vintage prints and unique materials (even curtain fabric!). Their luxury five panels are each hand-made and are fast becoming a must-have in high-end streetwear. So with all of this success, does the brand have plans to launch other products? The team will try out new hat models this season, but they’re definitely sticking to their original philosophy: do one thing, and do it well, much like the Barbour coat or the Clarks desert boot. Marc noticed a growing phenomenon in street fashion: mixing styles, with signature items. Like all wardrobe staples, the Larose cap is meant to be worn with no boundaries. Frankly, we’d sport it with anything.
Be on the lookout for the new collection being launched during Men’s Fashion Week! In the meantime, want to know where the cool guys of Larose hang out in Paris? Check out where you might run into them when they’re not in the showroom:
Au Bascou / 38, rue Réaumur / 75003
Just a few steps away from the infernal rue de Bretagne, a real restaurant, with tablecloths, old people and comfort food from the Southwest.
Le café coutume / 47, rue de Babylone / 75007
Le caféothèque / 52, rue de l’Hôtel de Ville / 75004
When we feel like showing off, we hang around here with one of the best cups of coffee in Paris and some chic reading. Just for effect.
Le marché aux Puces de Clignancourt / Metro Porte de Clignancourt
Between the fake Nikes and stoner t-shirts, there’s always something to buy at the Puces de Clignancourt.
Yvon Lambert / 108, rue Vieille du Temple / 75003
The best bookstore in Paris, connected to one of the best galleries in Paris. What more is there to ask for?
La Bibliothèque des Arts Décoratifs / 107, rue de Rivoli / 75001
A beautiful area that’s quiet and smart. You’ll find the most unique fashion and design books, and with a little luck, your neighbour might make eye contact with you… Plus, Colette is just around the corner. Sweeeeeet deal.
 
George les canettes / 11, rue des Canettes / 75006
Perfect to party as if you were on the Titanic…
Nose / 20, rue Bachaumont / 75002
The ideal place to find out that you’ve been wearing the wrong perfume since before you can even remember and that it’s urgently time to change… All that in good humour and taste, of course.
 
Old England / 12, boulevard des Capucines / 75009
It’s closed? Really? Really really? Who cares, we’ll keep combing the aisles of this temple of style, English, bourgeois, and so uptight…
Turkish restaurants in the rue du Faubourg Saint Denis / Métro Strasbourg Saint-Denis.
The morning after, around 12:30, go up the Rue du Faubourg Saint Denis, grab a seat indoors and order a mountain of Turkish pizza for 3 euros… everything will feel better.
Le Village / 8, rue de Versigny / 75018
The coolest bar in Paris, or almost… Inside, you’ll see real Parisians, workers taking their coffee break and loitering barflies. Great place for a sociological study. And you won’t come across Garance Doré here, we promise.
Article: Felix Vo