Christophe Lemaire honed his craft at some of France’s most prominent fashion houses – including his term as artistic director at Hermès womenswear – and pools his extensive experience to inform his eponymous label. Having debuted his prêt-à-porter menswear line in 1995, the French creative now works with fellow designer Sarah-Linh Tran to produce collections of versatile staples with a decidedly utilitarian slant. The brand’s quietly understated tailoring focuses on the impeccably made essentials of men’s wardrobes – think fine crew knits, precision-cut shirts, roomy trousers and softly draped coats in subtle, earthy shades. Complementing the pared-back clothing offering are artisanally made accessories, most notably the iconic Croissant bag which is rendered in butter-soft leather with a segmented shape that playfully mimics its namesake pastry.
