Jean TouitouThe A.P.C. founder on the demands of hype and craft.
Jean TouitouThe A.P.C. founder on the demands of hype and craft.
“Leave me alone and let me do exactly what I want to do.” Few brands would release such a statement for their 35th anniversary, but coming from Jean Touitou—the founder of A.P.C.—it’s perhaps less of a surprise. Since launching his clothing label in Paris in 1987, the entrepreneur has changed the way we consume fashion, giving the world a wardrobe built on chic staples rather than trends. It is as though, in refusing to play by the industry’s rule book, Touitou has changed it: Much of what other brands preach today—a less-is-more ethos, the use of natural materials and a penchant for clean, gender-defying cuts—has always been part of the A.P.C. story.
In his label’s 35-year-long history, Touitou has collaborated with everyone from American work wear giant Carhartt WI...