Timeless, effective and well-made are all words that spring to mind when you think of the Parisian clothing label Officine Générale. Launching in 2012, the brand has perfected a smart but casual wardrobe based on founder Pierre Maheo’s personal aesthetic.Inspired by his grandfathers and surrounded by an appreciation for fabrics, Pierre set out to create a label that simply focused on quality and production. We join Pierre in his chosen space, to hear more about the unrivalled menswear label and what's install for Aw22... Thank you for taking the time to talk to Coggles today! Please tell us a little bit about yourself.
I am Pierre Maheo, founder and owner of Officine Générale, born in Brittany on French’s west coast. My Grandfather and Father were oyster producers and on my mother’s side, my grandfather was a tailor who opened a fabric store after the war in 1945.I grew up surrounded by chinos, Oxford and denim on one side. And, smart effortless, three-piece suits and ties on the other side, even on Sunday. When I started Officine Générale, I wanted to mix both worlds. That was my DNA for the brand.
What inspired Officine Générale?
Quality, craftsmanship and fabrics. I wanted to do the best products at the sharpest price, which was really the start. Creating clothes I would want to wear that would age beautifully.Please tell us where you have photographed yourself today.
I photographed myself in my design office, precisely in our showroom. This is a space I love and spend a lot of time in. It is made out of concrete, stone and wood.How would you describe the Officine Générale aesthetic?
Clean, soft - tailoring with attitude.What is one wardrobe item you cannot live without?
Without a doubt, it would have to be a white tee.What were your inspirations for the AW22 collection?
I played a lot with monochromatic looks there are four main colours - navy, camel, mid grey and olive. Without going too much into detail, we developed the same colour on four different materials or yarns in order to get the perfect match for one piece to another. This has certainly turned into one of my obsessions.Why is quality so important?
Simply because it is part of the DNA, Officine Générale would not be the same without it. It has been a focus since the beginning, from my childhood. It was the first amendment of my constitution.Officine Générale does not have a logo, I am against the idea, I see quality as my invisible logo.
Can you tell us something that not everyone knows about Officine Générale?
I started Officine Générale in my apartment kitchen. I built it from scratch ten years ago. We now have just under one hundred people in the company.I am deeply in love with what I do when I wake up in the morning I never have the feeling that I have to go to work.What is your favourite thing about Parisian fashion?
It would have to be our past icons. There is a French way of wearing a jacket, a coat, and a white tee shirt, it is something subtle made of nonchalance and attitude.Lastly, if you are heading out for dinner tonight, what would you want on the menu?
Well, it is pretty warm at the moment. I would say prosciutto with melon and a carpaccio, something light and cold!
