Cinabre in Los Angeles : our scarves collection
04/13/2021 12:16:36
After our work with the Louvre, I’m jetting you over to Los Angeles for a new collaboration
In a pristine 400 m2 store-loft-workshop in the heart of the Arts District, right next to the new Soho House hotel, we find George Esquivel's kingdom. George is a friend of mine and a renowned American shoe designer. Together, we have created a limited series of scarves that just ooze both The States and Paris.
I’m thrilled to introduce you to our new collection as well as a true American entrepreneur, brimming with ideas and enthusiasm. Bigger than life.
See our collection of bandanas
GEORGE ESQUIVEL, ENERGY MADE IN CALIFORNIA
George Esquivel holds a special place in the story of Cinabre. Since the beginning, this American designer has always been in my corner, radiating the legendary energy of a self-made man.
Growing up in a trailer, taking a job in construction to put food on the table for his mother, brothers, and sister, George fell in love with the smell of leather, set up his very own shoemaking workshop (in his garage), created some alluring unique shoes, and became the darling of Anna Wintour and the craftsman of choice for California celebrities, musicians, entrepreneurs...
What an amazing story, right?
George is the one who introduced me to the Parisan Colette store teams, back in Cinabre’s very first year. And he’s also the person I call to chat about luxury, brand, know-how, etc. "Luxury takes time" "Craft, not hype" "Have fun": A phone call to Georges uplifts me for weeks.
The best thing? Every day we each wear what the other crafts on the other side of the ocean.
Esquivel shoes will soon be available, exclusively, in our Paris boutique, with a made-to-order service.
My favorite pieces, which I’ve been wearing for 10 years, is the wholecut which has removable kilties and the hand-painted dress shoes. Everything on this shoe is crafted by hand in his L.A. atelier: hand cut, hand lasted, hand finished. The pair in the photo above is shown with our Hauteville bag.
FROM L.A. TO PARIS
In “normal” times, we take advantage of George's Paris fashion weeks and my Californian road trips to see each other several times a year.
But in these social distancing times, deprived of hugs and outings, we wanted to work on something special together. For our remote collaboration, we united our two legendary cities: Paris, home base of Cinabre, and Los Angeles, birthplace of Esquivel Shoes.
To say George is a huge fan of Paris is a major understatement. His affection for the city is so great that he had tattooed on his arm Paris’ coat of arms and city motto: Fluctuat Nec Mergitur (Roughly translated as Tossed by waves, but not sunk, which also works well for the American temperament).
So, we put this coat of arms in the middle of a bandana, straight out of the American West.
THE CINABRE x ESQUIVEL COLLECTION
Although bandanas are symbolic of workmen and cowboys of the “Wild West”, the fabric is native to India (bandhnu means “to tie” in Hindi and bandhana is Sanskrit for “a bond”), the cashmere teardrop pattern comes from Iran, and the name "Paisley" is Scottish.
We inserted our Paris touch to this melting-pot with the city's coat of arms, colors, and even a miniature robot hidden in the design.
Traditionally, bandanas are a combination of only two colors. Our Franco-American palette is broader, with one exception : The "purist" model comes in black and white , in a 200x70cm scarf.
Our best-selling formats, which have already been spotted by American Vogue: two large modal-cashmere blend squares, 140x140cm (55x55 inches), in navy blue and cream, made in France and ultra-soft.The classic format, is a 63x63cm (25x25 inches) square, with 5 colors, in silk cotton rather than 100% cotton, to keep the signature feel of our collections.
OUR 3 FAVORITE ADDRESSES WHEN VISITING GEORGE IN L.A.
Eatery : Gjelina, Gjelina is a gourmet pizza place that also serves cocktails. We haven’t yet decided which of the two we like best, so we have to go back and check. 1429 Abbot Kinney Blvd, Venice
Shop : George's atelier of course, in the sizzling Arts District. The shop/workshop (pictured below) is open 7 days a week by appointment. 820 S Santa Fe Ave, Los Angeles.
Rooftop lounge : The one at Proper Hotel Santa Monica. he hotel lobby and restaurant bar feature a very sophisticated selection of antique furniture and are definitely worth a visit. 700 Wilshire Blvd, Santa Monica.
MY 3 FAVORITE ADDRESSES WHEN GEORGE VISITS ME IN MONTMARTRE
Coffee break: Spend some time at the café in the gardens of Musée Montmartre in the morning, when the tourists have not yet invaded. It’s a breath of fresh country air in the heart of Paris.
Apero: Savor an apéritif on the terrace of Relais de la Butte, perched on the slopes of Montmartre, with a bird's eye view of the whole city. One of the best vista points for admiring the capital.
Cocktail No. 1: Indulge in a seductive cocktail in the lovely garden or glass-panelled conservatory of the Hôtel Particulier Montmartre (picture below). You have to ring a doorbell at an external gate to be granted access to the private cobbled lane lined with gardens and petanque courts, then go through a second door to enter this magnificent mansion.
Cocktail No. 2: Up in the air at Brasserie Barbès. Dance the night away when I'm DJ-ing on the top-floor Dancing level that overlooks the elevated metro.
