HABILE OPENS A BOUTIQUE-RESTAURANT IN PARIS

Launched two years ago as an online-only venture, the unisex ready-to-wear brand Habile opens a new concept space on 9 June, combining a fashion store and a restaurant, at 16, rue de Lancry, in the 10th arrondissement.

Behind the concept is a couple: Camille Andrieux, a graduate of the Chardon-Savard school whose career took her to Marc Jacobs and Alexander McQueen in New York, then to Sonia Rykiel before heading knitwear and jersey at Iro; and Eric Fontanini, a seasoned chef who trained at Guy Savoy and Alain Ducasse before running the kitchens at the Palais-Royal restaurant.

Having first joined forces through their consultancy Know-How Consulting, they launched Habile in 2019 with the ambition of championing timelessness and durability in clothing. "The textile industry, as it had been heading in recent years, didn't suit us, so we launched Habile around the idea of a traceable, sustainable wardrobe made up of iconic pieces designed to be worn for a long time", says Camille Andrieux. The space dedicated to the Habile collection Inspired by military clothing and workwear, the duo has built a timeless wardrobe that sits outside the rhythm of collections, built around permanent pieces — a jacket, dungarees and a denim canvas apron — offered in a colour palette ranging from traditional workwear blue to overseas green and blue-grey. "Tradition twisted with modernity," adds the designer, "as with our reversible jackets that reveal the house's hand-printed pattern."
Completing the range is a line of t-shirts, sweatshirts (made in Portugal), reversible jumpers, beanies knitted at Saint-James and socks made in France, each piece accompanied by labels carrying themed messages — love, to mark the store's opening —, with the full range priced at €195 for the work jacket, €45 for the t-shirt and €235 for the jumper. Camille Andrieux and Eric Fontanini, the founders of the brand and the space, Habile Presented on the store's upper floor, the Habile collection also features on the menu of the restaurant occupying the ground floor, where customers can order a croque-monsieur, Caesar salad, eggs Benedict, a t-shirt or a Habile jacket.
A restaurant designed to stay open throughout the day, also offering the services of a wine merchant and a fine grocery. "Habile brings together a wealth of expertise. In the kitchen as in fashion, we champion quality and transparency in everything we produce."

In the coming weeks, the duo is expected to work on new developments, spotlight collaborations between fashion and food, and expand its collections with trousers, shirts and accessories.
By Alexis Chenu, 9 June 2021 for Fashion Network