Understanding a label like The Society Archive requires more than a quick Google search. To really get it, you need to dig a little deeper. Because any brand that openly self-describes as “irreverent luxury” (which essentially means chilled opulence) while keeping its history, ethos, and origin story so reverently under wraps, requires attention. To get to know The Society Archive, you’ve got to put in the time. .
Thankfully, we’ve done it for you.
Founded in New York City in 2020 by creative director Marcus Allen, The Society Archive is first and foremost an archive: it’s a collection of carefully selected garments culled by the experts behind the velvet curtains of the label. Though it launched in 2020, the archive began to grow 15 years prior. And rather than focus on any particular label, this archive focuses on design principles. Curators select garments for inclusion that are well made, look good, stand the test of time, and are, well, still things we want to wear.
Earlier this year, we sat with the team at its New York headquarters. We started with one question: What makes The Society Archive so special? Here’s what they told us.
Halle Lagatta - Creative Ops - “It's so much more than clothing, it's a feeling, a very specific moment in time, and (not to sound too corny) it's a family.”
Izaake Souza Zuckerman - Executive Assistant - “It’s a lifestyle, a community, one that you can jump into and embrace and genuinely feel its warmth. Its’ ability to create this encompassing allure is what makes it special to me.”
Anaa Saber - Host of Behind the Scene - “My favorite thing about it is not only the incredible garments and history they have but the community surrounding the archive.”
Cobey Arner - Photographer & E-Commerce Director - “What the Society Archive has is very hard to replicate – a distinct voice and image that draws on hundreds of different references from all over the map, but also draws on Marcus’s personal experience. Marcus relies on his ability to communicate these references to educate a younger generation. By helping them understand the history of fashion as well as his own background, those he’s taken under the wing of Society are able to push his vision further through their own lens.”
Anton Louis Boyer - Photographer & Assistant - “The Society Archive gives you a feeling of nostalgia that takes you back to the ‘90s early 2000s era. The casual/luxury approach and authentic taste in timeless vintage pieces inspires me not only as a photographer, but the way I put different pieces together for myself.”
Sergio Bello - Founder of Bello Projects - “Society Archive allows us to dress in quality classic American Heritage sustainably. The archive is unparalleled, and it speaks to those of us who do not aim to dress for trends and who appreciate the rarity of each piece.”
Phoenix Johnson - Photographer - “Curation, collaboration, companionship.”
Ronald Burton - Stylist - “Its unwavering point of view, championing the classics of American wardrobe; an archive rooted in nostalgia, taste, and ease.”
Jan Quammie - Stylist - “They are the gatekeepers of a very specific era of American fashion that is niche. It’s an aesthetic that’s nostalgic and could but be forgotten if it wasn’t for these guys. There’s a uniformity in Society Archive that’s consistently modern and that’s no easy feat.“
Delaney Ortiz - Model & Comedian - “I’ve gotten a better appreciation for styling in general after working with The Society Archive. To take what is already there, has already been, and to flip that into a look is just flat out dope? I think that takes a certain type of creativity, and a certain type of vision, and that, to me, is very special.”
Cody Parks - Art Director & Graphic Designer - “It canonizes an era where cool, quality clothing was accessible while still managing to make you feel part of [it]. In a sense, the practice is anti-industry – defying trend at a time when the cycle is spinning faster than ever.”
Conor Fay - Model - “The Society Archive pulls lots from the past, but somehow avoids being a nostalgic brand. It is its own unique thing.”
Ysham Avdulahi - Model & Chef - “Earth tones done right is what you get at Society Archive.”
Mary Fadrowski - Server at Fanelli Café - “It comes from a place of passion. To be such a collector requires a great deal of endurance, patience, love, and hunting… The people behind it are just stunning, inside and out.”
