Arpenteur

“It’s a balance between utility and poetry.”

Marc and Laurent, the founders of Arpenteur, welcomed us into their Lyon-based atelier: a space that mirrors their ethos: precise, understated, and deeply rooted in a personal vision of clothing. Balancing everyday poetry with technical rigor, their brand embodies functional elegance shaped by time, friendship, and local craftmanship.

How did Arpenteur come to be, and what was your original ambition?

Marc : Laurent and I met when we were around 20 years old. We discovered we were actually related and that we shared many interests, especially in clothing. That led us to brainstorm a joint project. In 2011, we took the plunge and launched Arpenteur.

Laurent : We were driven by the desire to bring something new. There were garments we dreamed of wearing but couldn’t find anywhere. That urge grew so strong that we decided to create our own brand, built on our shared imagination and culture.

Marc: We listened to the same music, watched the same films…

Laurent: …and we loved the same clothes. It was a shared passion.

Marc: We wanted to work together, but filmmaking was difficult and we weren’t musicians—so clothing became our outlet: partly by default, but mostly out of passion.

Was founding a clothing brand obvious to you from the start?

Marc: I’ve always loved clothes. They were often my doorway into other passions.

Laurent: Same here. But it only became concrete after we met. Designing our own pieces was a completely different prospect: starting almost from zero, with the ambition to master every detail. Even though we quickly learned it’s not that simple, the idea of creating something coherent that tells our shared story fascinated us immediately.

Why the name “Arpenteur”?

Marc: There’s no literal meaning: we liked the sense of exploration it conveys. “Arpenteur” also suggests addressing concrete needs, which is exactly what we aim to do through our clothing.

In a few words, how would you describe your brand today?

Marc: We always start with what we ourselves want to wear. We think of clothes in terms of daily needs, but with a certain poetry. We avoid the purely anecdotal or eccentric, remaining true to function while adding a sensitive touch. It’s a balance between utility and poetry.

Can you explain your production and creative process?

Marc: Initially, our approach was fueled by exploring the textile industry: learning how garments are made. Today, with experience, we draft designs while already envisioning their construction. Our sketches are precise yet flexible. Next, we refine each piece according to technical feasibility.

This phase is highly collaborative: Laurent, me, our colleague Eliott (who is deeply involved), and the atelier team all engage in a dialogue between technique and creation. Having our own workshop accelerates this process: we test ideas immediately, which makes development far more efficient.

You also work with external ateliers. How does that collaboration unfold?

Laurent: We know our partner workshops inside out, some have been with us since our first season. For 15 years, we visited frequently; now the dialogue is so fluid we go less often. From the moment we conceive a piece, we already know which atelier will handle its production based on its type, jacket, trousers, tailored piece, casual wear, knit, etc.

They also understand our desired level of finish. That long-standing trust makes production smoother, despite its inherent complexities.

Marc: And they’re nearby, many around Roanne, about an hour’s drive away in Saône‑et‑Loire. A few are further west, we visit less often, but sharing language and time zone makes coordination much easier.

Does this proximity affect your creation process?

Marc: Absolutely. At every stage, having our in‑house atelier lets us work nuances into the design from the outset. And French manufacturing, in continuity with that, enables a level of sophistication we wouldn’t achieve by sending technical sheets overseas. That closeness means we can attain maximum nuance in our garments.

Are there challenges in working exclusively with French ateliers?

Laurent: It’s hard to say, we’ve never worked abroad.

Marc: We even feel it might be more complicated to do so.

Laurent: Production is never simple, material or accessory shortages can arise. But we’re in constant dialogue with our ateliers. The real challenge is designing smartly so manufacturing costs stay reasonable and our garments remain affordably priced. But I imagine those challenges exist everywhere.

What are your main influences and inspirations when designing?

Marc: We don’t draw from precise cultural references. We don’t set out to create “a jacket like that character’s in that film.” It’s more abstract, shaped by experiences: pieces we loved wearing, youthful passions that resurface, whether from sports, music, the style of artists we admired, or the aesthetic of a certain era. Those impressions feed our imagination, and then we translate them into concrete garments, jackets, trousers, etc. It’s an abstract but deeply personal process.

How has Arpenteur evolved since its beginnings over ten years ago?

Laurent: It’s grown with us. We were about 25 when we launched; now we’re 40. Our personal dress preferences have changed, and that naturally influences each collection. It’s never abrupt, always a gradual maturation. We believe others evolve similarly, and we want to accompany them on that journey.

How do you envision the future of Arpenteur?

Laurent: We still have so many ideas. Even after nearly 15 years, we feel like we’re at the beginning. We’re introducing leather goods to the collection, opening a new frontier, and collaborating with a new knitwear atelier for winter 2025, whose expertise is remarkable.

There are countless materials we haven’t yet explored. Beyond products, we have projects in retail, marketing, print and we’re developing a second sunglasses model. In short, many horizons.

Marc: We see our path as a continuous journey. We can’t judge our own brand’s quality, but we know we create with authenticity and honesty. We want to continue that way, with growing resources and experience to push our vision further.

Finally, what would you say about Centre Commercial?

Marc: It’s simple: Centre Commercial believed in us about ten years ago. They’ve always supported and encouraged us, helping us gain recognition. We’re deeply grateful and hope to collaborate with them again soon.