Vertbois inaugurates “Lafont 1844” by Louis-Marie de Castelbajac
Take an almost 200-year-old workwear brand, add a talented designer, and behold the result: the collection “Lafont 1844 by Louis-Marie de Castelbajac.” The designer presented his 15-piece collection of practical and elegant pieces on Rue Vertbois (which the larger design collective is named after, in honor of its regional creative reputation). Lafont has been dressing workers since 1844; their famous 406 overalls were popularized by the French comedian Coluche and by the actress Sophie Marceau in the ‘80s film “La Boum.” Still a leader on the French market today, the brand is also known for its blue carpenter’s jacket (“le Coltin”), worn by iconic French actor Jean Gabin in “La Bête Humaine” and by Pharrell Williams in his video “Freedom.” Louis-Marie de Castelbajac mixed the brand’s vintage vibe with the now. “Having always been passionate about work garments and especially how they convey a message halfway between poetry and urbanism, I had the pleasure of meeting Lafont last year. The idea of our collaboration is to create pieces that bring together timelessness, authenticity and modernity,” he said. The showroom, designed in the spirit of a workwear workshop, drew guests like Lukas Ionesco, Alice Balas, and Juliette Besson. Glasses of Armagnac 700—Louis-Marie’s brand of brandy—were on hand.
