Galet, the up-and-coming French loafer brand, is playing up the architectural details in its new flagship in Paris’ Saint-Germain-de-Prés neighborhood.
The one-and-a-half-year-old company worked with well-known artists Henry Krokatsis and Klemens Torggler on the new space. Krokatsis — known for mixing innovative materials — designed a wooden patchwork floor. Torggler crafted one of his famous kinetic door that resembles a geometic sculpture and swings open to “Le Salon Rouge,” a hidden alcove in the back of the store where consumers can shop for limited-edition collections.
The brand, which hit the Hamptons this summer to generate buzz, hosted a party during Paris Fashion Week to celebrate the space.
There, co-founder Jonathan Horemans explained the philosophy behind the brand.
“We wanted to produce a niche product that will last. We looked at Italy and France and we thought France had an undiscovered area of shoemaking,” he said. “The French shoemaking and design just offers a different kind of vibe,” he added noting that he wanted to offer men something besides the ubiquitous Ferragamo and Gucci loafers.
The store also prominently displays its shoes boxes that sit above the shelves where product is displayed. The label offers a diverse mix of loafers in a variety of colors and materials.
