IN CONVERSATION WITH BEIGE HABILLEUR

As its namesake would suggest, BEIGE Habilleur is synonymous with sophistication, with effortlessness, and with the kind of “modern classic” attire it famously purveys. Founded in 2015 by Basile Khadiry and Jean-Baptiste Ménétrier, the Parisian boutique, nestled away from the bustle in the city’s 16th arrondissement, has since become a cult favorite of stylish locals and a destination for foreigners with a toe in the city’s fashion circles. The boutique’s motto, printed in capital letters at the top of its pared-back Instagram profile, reads “BUY LESS, BUY THE BEST.” And even a cursory scroll through the rest of BEIGE's feed seems to bolster that statement with visions of immaculate tailoring, casually and sparsely styled with plush knitwear, a leather belt with turquoise embellishment, or a pair of shearling gloves presented against a spartan white backdrop, so beautifully rendered that nothing else is required in their presentation. “BEIGE stocks collections of the best menswear and accessories from the UK, Italy, the US, France, Japan, and beyond,” says Khadiry. Indeed. 

With its affinity for timeless design and pristine craftsmanship, BEIGE Habilleur seemed a natural choice of collaborator in Quartz Co.’s latest project, which sees Khadiry reimagine the brand’s iconic Vostok expedition parka with a Parisian twist. Here, we speak with Khadiry about BEIGE, French style, and the vision behind the collaboration. 

We want the selection of brands to be classic without being outdated. We select all our products with the idea that, from a double-breasted overcoat to a simple t-shirt, the level of craftsmanship should be exactly the same.  

We like the idea of offering “modern classics” to our customers. We don’t want to look too “costumed”; it has to be contemporary. We like – and I think it is very French – mixing English, Italian, and American style. We like garments that have an interesting story behind them. 

Even if we’re a multi-brand store, a lot of people tell us that BEIGE has its own identity, its own aesthetic. I think it’s due to the fact that we love working with brands that have full control over their production, so we can make special products together or simple design adjustments that make the garments fit our artistic direction.

We’ve been looking for technical outdoors garment with a real savoir-faire and a relevant country of origin for a long time. We met Jean-Phillipe [CEO of Quartz Co.] with my friend Gauthier Borsarello and that’s what started the discussion.

The Vostok is Quartz Co’s iconic coat and we love its functional beauty. We were looking for a coat with the look of a mountain expedition garment but that could be worn in the city.

First of all, it’s well-made in Canada by a team with real experience in a cold climate. We reinterpreted this modern classic with specs and colours that can tell the story of a polar expedition but in the more reasonable climates of Paris, Tokyo or New York.