Gabrielle Gerard and Marion Jaubert, fashion school friends turned business partners, are the dynamic women behind Ambrym, a French label dedicated to sustainable and locally made fashion. Together they have created a line of clothing, and a shop in the 10th arrondissement, that resembles their unique stories as well as their shared history.
Their shop, next to the Canal St-Martin, looks exactly like what you’d imagine a space shared by two creative ladies would, sketches and paintings that inspire their designs are hung on the walls, while jewelry and clothing are lovingly presented. It’s immediately clear that this friendly and welcoming space was created by two amies. While the project is a collaboration, Gabrielle’s childhood and background heavily influence the collections.
Gabrielle grew up in the South Pacific among lagoons and banyan trees and also apprenticed in Paris’s Goutte d’Or neighborhood. The designer brings a tribal and exotic touch to Ambrym’s designs, which are often inspired by Gabrielle’s original water color paintings.
Ambrym uses organic, natural fabrics such as cotton, wool, and linen to produce made-in-France pieces reminiscent of faraway landscapes. The inspiration from abroad, mixed with current trends and urban influence, are essential to Ambrym and its designers, who assure the consumer of their need “to assert our ecological values while perpetuating ancestral knowhow.”
While charged with meaning and symbolism, Ambrym’s clothing remains poetic and playful. Light cotton pieces with intriguing details and special touches are both wearable and capable of sparking a conversation.
The current collection “Push the Sky Away” (inspired by lyrics from a Nick Cave song) incorporates airy colors and origami-inspired crane shapes. Geometric forms are also present in stunning accessories such as earrings, necklaces, and headbands that would make great gifts or souvenirs.
Each unique piece comes complete with an identification card upon purchase, giving the article’s place and date of birth, the origins of the materials used, and the name of the workshop in which it was made.
Ambrym- 22 rue des Vinaigriers, 75010. Tel: +33 (0)1 42 05 35 38
Related Links:
- Love all things organic? Discover the best bio shops in Paris.
- French luxury group Kering has partnered with the London College of Fashion to promote more eco-friendly fashion. Check out more and see what your favorite brands are doing in this French Vogue piece.
- Learn even more about Ambrym and the women behind it in this article from Betosee.
Written by Emily Dilling for the HiP Paris Blog. All images by Isabel Miller-Bottome. Looking for a fabulous vacation rental in Paris, London, Provence, or Tuscany? Check out Haven in Paris.
WRITTEN BY
Emily Dilling
Emily Dilling is a France based writer and author of My Paris Market Cookbook: A Culinary Tour of French Flavors and Seasonal Recipes. In 2005 Emily moved to Paris from her native California and began exploring the cities markets, restaurants, and cafés. In 2010 she founded the blog Paris Paysanne, where she writes about her favorite addresses and artisans in the city. Emily currently lives in the Loir-et-Cher region of France, where she writes and works in the grapevines.
Thanks for the post about such a great looking shop in an interesting part of Paris. I’m always looking for links to shops for clients and will add this to my list.