Labels

Five Frenchie Labels Set to Blow Up Stateside

Friday, Jan 22, 2010 / 2:49 PM

We’re guessing you’ve noticed, but there’s a bit of an American obsession with Paris-based designers right now. With Zadig & Voltaire setting up shop in the meatpacking district last year, Isabel Marant’s imminent arrival in SoHo and April 77 jeans a must-wear for fashion types, it seems like Francophilia is so much cooler than Anglophilia these days.

We’ve rounded up five favorite French labels that are sure to dominate in U.S. stores over the next few years. Some of these may already be favorites of yours, which means you probably have that certain je ne sais quoi we’re all seeking.

IRO
Available at boutiques like Thistle & Clover in Brooklyn and Shopbop, IRO pumps up casual separates with subtle beading, shaggy knits and bohemian fringe. Current fans include Rihanna and Jessica Alba.
Isabel Marant
Beloved by fashion insiders, Marant’s marl sweatpants, studded boots and wooly jackets have become so ubiquitous over the last year that the Wall Street Journal even wrote a story about her. While her price point is still a bit high for most, expect to see those willing to drop $200 or more on a pair of leggings flock to her SoHo store when it opens this spring. We also see her look doing well in Los Angeles and San Francisco.
Zadig & Voltaire
When I first stepped into Zadig’s meatpacking district shop, it reminded me of a hipper version of Abercrombie & Fitch. It had that youthful attitude, minus the irrelevance factor. Go here for leather bombers, utility jackets and a bit of sparkle.
American Vintage
Last time we were in Paris we couldn’t escape American Vintage, a French label launched in 2005. The collection is mostly very thin cotton, wool and cashmere t-shirts, and they look as amazing tucked into a pencil skirt as they do thrown over a pair of boyfriend jeans. Revolve Clothing and Smith + Butler both stock the line.
April 77
With a focus on denim and music–the brand includes a record label as well–you’d except April 77 to be dark in an All Saints kind of way. Instead, its knitwear is a rainbow of Navajo-inspired prints and bright plaids. You can currently find it at Gargyle.


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Comments [6]

I love Isabel Marant, but I think she’s already extremely popular in the US. Do you guys know the exact dates of her store opening? All I can seem to find is February/spring.

She’s popular within a certain set–people who are incredibly interested in fashion. But I think she could reach Alexander Wang level of notoriety over the next year. And while the shop was set to open at the end of January, however, there hasn’t been any construction going on, so we think it’ll probably be more like March. Other good news is that Net-a-porter is going to start selling her collection online, which she forbade in the past. Hope that helps a little!

i would like to see the kooples do well here. it definitely seems in tune with the hipster fashion crowd, but the pieces are versatile enough for most people to pull off.

Ooh, yes, Kooples is fantastic, fashiondoc!

First of thank you Lauren for bringing these labels to light– I think blog exposure is what makes fast fashion/pop-ups happen for us in the States.
I have to disagree with you though, about Zadig & Voltaire. I think their general aesthetic– minus the word shirts/sweaters which are a little too too– is far more worldly and sophisticated than A&F on every level. Their cashmere for example, has that great draped looked, and my fav of their sweaters (which I am too broke to own, full confession) has this amusing set of faux-elbow patches. The simplicity of their pieces, along with their whimsy, is what makes them for me…
Now if only there was a Z&V sale on somewhere in Berlin!

COTELAC is a GREAT Paris based brand! Easy, Simple, Chic. The new Spring is to die for!