First, NYC, then London — naturally, it only makes sense to have Paris as the next stop on the list. GANT’s traveling Archive Exhibition has popped up in some of the world’s hottest cultural hubs, and this month sees it culminate in the City of Love.
Celebrating its heritage, with Samutaro and Throwing Fits having curated the previous events, GANT is moving on to Paris from April 27th, this time calling upon French video maker and skateboarder Manuel Schenck to put his stamp on the brand’s historical legacy.
The Paris pop-up mixes all types of mediums. Aside from physical installations of the archive attire itself, GANT has an audio piece in the form of a playful service hotline. In the three-minute piece you can hear Schenck deep-diving into the history of GANT’s sailing pieces and nautical heritage as well as what he finds himself most drawn to from their vast past collections. The hotline almost serves as a guide to the space itself, giving you an insider scoop on the concept of the pop-up.
Showcasing clothing from GANT’s inception up until today, the four-day exhibition will take over 52 Rue Charlot in the heart of Le Marais with an eclectic mix of archive pieces classed per decade. Schenck is heavily into nautical attire and '90s sportswear, but his chosen grails aren’t just from those two fields — there’s some vintage outerwear, college campus memorabilia, and varsity-prep pieces thrown in the selection too.
We had a quick chat with the style icon to find out more about his carefully curated cast of GANT treasures.
Describe your style in two words.
Casual and free.
What do you love about GANT as a brand?
The prestige of the brand, the quality of the products, their innovations, and their impact over time.
As a skateboard enthusiast, if you had to pick one item from the archive that you’d wear when you skate, what would it be?
The timeless red flannel.
What inspired your selection of pieces from the archive?
When I first learned about this project, the prestige of GANT piqued my interest, and the contrast between the brand and myself really added to the appeal. My childhood memories influenced my selection the most — all these products are a bit like a Proust's madeleine!
If GANT was a skate trick, which one would it be and why?
A nice 50/50 back, clean, efficient, and a sure value for what it is.
Talking about the exhibition, GANT creative director Christopher Bastin said, “today the Archive contains thousands of pieces that represent our history, from 1949 to present day. It’s been such a privilege to bring the archive exhibition to key cities, and I’m so excited that we’re completing the tour in Paris, a city that has always given me great inspiration.”
Find out more on gant.com
Visit the GANT Archive Exhibition:
52 Rue Charlot
75003, Paris.
April 27-30th
Thursday - Saturday: 11am - 7pm Sunday: 11 am - 6pm
