There’s so much to love about French menswear label Études it’s difficult to pinpoint the exact ingredient that makes their collections so killer. Their work wear-inspired, androgynous cuts make anyone look good, man/woman, shaped like an apple, pear or pterodactyl. The art direction is a winning combination of sexy and utilitarian, with occasional glimpses of weird – check out the guy on the Segway from SS14 for a prime example. Each collection boasts a different signature pattern, be that an expressionist watercolour flourish or hand-drawn scribble but there are a few touchpoints running from day one to their latest AW14 offering. The guys love blue (a deep and soulful oceanic hue) and they also love hats (wide-brimmed felt numbers with hella swag).
Launched by artists Aurélien Arbet and Jérémie Egry in 2012, Études is more than just a fashion label. The studio designs and publishes artists books (for the likes of photographers Daniel Everett and Mohamed Bourouissa), and works as a creative studio to boot. Their latest collaboration has been with phenomenal product designers US-based Chen Chen & Kai Williams (take a look at their Ginkgo lamps for a real treat) to create a pop-up store on New York’s Broome Street. Packed full of such neat wares, it couldn’t really go wrong, but Chen and Williams’ geometric furniture, slick neons and atomic-looking props really showcase the vibrancy of Etudes’ garments in the best possible way. The result is an gallery-like retail space with that’s poised without being pretentious.
