Paris Showroom 1988 Offers Rare Vintage and Designer Pieces

A new Paris showroom, named 1988 after the year its founders were born, is quickly gaining a following for its curated collection of rare vintage and designer pieces. Located above the Quai des Grands Augustins, the appointment-only space features approximately 2,000 items available for rental or purchase.

A Focused Concept and Niche Selection

While Paris has many showrooms and resale shops, 1988 stands out with its focused concept and niche selection. The inventory includes high-end designers like Miuccia Prada, Helmut Lang, and Raf Simons, alongside American vintage dating back to the 1930s. Notable pieces include early Helmut Lang jackets, a Phoebe Philo Yves Klein Blue dress from Celine, and a pair of Malcolm McLaren pants gifted by Kim Jones.

Curated Selection Beyond the 'Holy Trinity'

Though Miuccia, Helmut, and Raf are considered the showroom's “holy trinity,” the selection extends to other designers. Visitors can find early Christophe Lemaire workwear jackets, Comme des Garçons Homme Plus Bermuda shorts, Jil Sander knit cardigans, and Louis Vuitton x Rei Kawakubo bags. The American vintage selection includes brands like Sweet-Or, Russell, Flagg, Champion, and Mayo Spruce, with a focus on details like flat lock seams in Peanuts graphic sweatshirts.

Founders' Backgrounds and Inspiration

The showroom is the creation of husband-and-wife duo Maël Larcher (né Lee Young-Kyoon) and Xiaoyu Jiang. Larcher, a menswear designer with a decade of experience at Dior Homme, including time with Kris Van Assche, Kim Jones, and Jonathan Anderson, studied at Esmod. Jiang, who met Larcher at Esmod, initially wasn't drawn to fashion but developed a passion for it after moving to Paris. The showroom began with their personal archives and a shared desire to collect specific pieces.