Over the course of their career, stylists Marithe and Francois Girbaud created many brands as they experimented in various divisions of clothing.  Incredibly, their contributions to each of them created waves in the industry and culture at large, the effects of which are still felt today. 

ÇA was the first brand founded by Marithé and François in 1968. Due to a copyright lawsuit, the couple renamed the brand to 11342, which so happened to be the case number of said lawsuit. When the case finally closed in 1978, Girbaud aptly decided to change the brand name to ‘Closed', and the name stuck. The brand became famous for its signature tab flys, stonewashed jeans and baggy silhouettes. The intricacy and pure ingenuity of Closed designs, many of which referenced military and classic garments, were nothing the industry had seen up to that point. Compagnie des Montagnes et des Forêts was a reinvention of traditional leather garments worn by mountain rangers and loggers.  After being founded in 1975 in collaboration with leather specialist Pierre-Alain Galtier, the label delivered the highest quality leather pieces for nearly two decades. The garments were produced in the small town of Mazamet, France, the world center of fellmongery, and also the producer of their knitwear label, Maillaparty. We see a lot of connections in Girbaud to Armani and Issey Miyake for their eclectic taste, fabric and stylistic choices, and superior execution. From detail to fabric to fit, everything about Girbaud feels familiar, and yet refreshingly new.