{"id":1208462,"date":"2022-01-06T12:37:59","date_gmt":"2022-01-06T11:37:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/haussmann.galerieslafayette.com\/culture-and-heritage\/"},"modified":"2024-01-25T15:33:24","modified_gmt":"2024-01-25T14:33:24","slug":"culture-and-heritage","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/haussmann.galerieslafayette.com\/en\/culture-and-heritage\/","title":{"rendered":"The Tale of Galeries Lafayette\u2026"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
Culture and heritage<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n The remarkable tale of Galeries Lafayette<\/strong> begins in the 19th<\/sup> century. The journey of this newcomer to the department store scene is punctuated by audacity and modernity at every turn. And this is its story.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In 1893<\/b>, two cousins from the Alsace, Th\u00e9ophile Bader<\/strong> and Alphonse Kahn<\/strong>, decided to open a shop selling novelty items in a small haberdashery, measuring just 70 m2<\/sup>, on the corner of rue La Fayette and rue de la Chauss\u00e9e d\u2019Antin in Paris.<\/p>\n\n\n Its location and the internal layout of the store, which encouraged customers to move along the aisles in straight lines, led to its name \u201cAux Galeries Lafayette\u201d<\/strong>. Whilst the venture was a bit of a gamble, the store was in the perfect location near to the Opera and the Grands Boulevards. Crowds of Parisians and visitors from out of town spilled out of the neighbouring Saint-Lazare railway station, attracted by the businesses in the area.<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/b>In 1896<\/b>, the company bought the whole building at number 1, rue La Fayette followed in 1903 by numbers 38, 40 and 42 on Boulevard Haussmann, as well as number 15, rue de la Chauss\u00e9e d\u2019Antin. The early years of the business were motivated by this \u201cbricks and mortar strategy\u201d, which resulted in an impressive acquisition of premises. All this was strengthened by its architecture, making it perfectly suited to the needs of commerce.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Th\u00e9ophile Bader<\/strong> entrusted the first major refurbishments of Boulevard Haussmann, completed in 1907<\/b>, to architect Georges Chedanne<\/strong>. It was only really in 1912<\/b>, however, spurred on by his apprentice Ferdinand Chanut<\/strong>, that the store began to take on a new dimension.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The flagship Galeries Lafayette<\/strong> store was unveiled in all its glory at its inauguration in October 1912. Th\u00e9ophile Bader<\/strong> dreamed of creating a \u201cluxury bazaar\u201d<\/b> where the sheer abundance and luxury of the merchandise on offer would wow the crowds! Golden light, filtered through the domed roof, would flood the grand hall and set the products aglow. The gamble had paid off.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Ferdinand Chanut<\/strong> called upon great artists from the \u00c9cole de Nancy to decorate this magnificent building in the style of Paris Art Nouveau. The banister of the magnificent staircase, inspired by the Paris Opera House, was designed by Louis Majorelle<\/strong>, who is also credited with the ironwork featured on the balconies. The dome, rising to a height of 43 metres, soon became the iconic symbol of Galeries Lafayette<\/strong>. Master glass-maker Jacques Gruber<\/strong> was responsible for designing the Neo-byzantine style stained glass windows.<\/p>\n\n\n The sales floor had suddenly doubled in size, but the innovations didn\u2019t stop there! A tea room, reading room and smoking room were then added to complement the 96 existing departments. As more department stores began to appear, shopping was becoming a leisure activity. At the very top of the building, the rooftop terrace offered a panoramic view of Paris. The store began organising special events much to the delight of an entertainment-hungry client\u00e8le, including the now famous rooftop landing by Jules V\u00e9drines<\/strong> in 1919. The aviator was fined for flying too low over Paris, but gained lifelong notoriety as the first ever rebel in aviation history.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The window displays have always been instrumental in setting the scene in the sales departments, with aspirational designs to tempt customers into the store. A vocation which has stood the test of time…<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Haussmann department store is the second top tourist attraction<\/b>, after the Eiffel Tower. It has become one of the must-see \u201cgreats\u201d in the world<\/b>. The store has hosted the likes of the Duchess of Windsor, Begum, the wife of the Aga Khan and in March 1960, right in the middle of the cold war, Mrs. Khrushchev. When she saw the escalators, she is said to have exclaimed: \u201cIt\u2019s just like the Moscow underground!\u201d In more recent times, the store has also welcomed Bill Clinton and Prince Charles, who opened the London<\/i> exhibition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n From the very beginning, Galeries Lafayette<\/strong> has remained true to its vocation: to serve up fashion and innovation<\/b>. To stand out from his rivals, Th\u00e9ophile Bader<\/strong> wanted to make sure that the latest fashions would be available to all. With this in mind, he set up and acquired production facilities to make clothing exclusively for Galeries Lafayette<\/strong> under its own private <\/b>label<\/b>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n He was also keenly aware that fashion and customers\u2019 tastes would constantly be changing. The Galeries Director devised an ingenious strategy to make sure the store was always up-to-date. He took himself off to the races and the opera, accompanied by a designer, who would discreetly copy the most stylish outfits designed by the most famous couturiers. Adjustments were made here and there and the outfits put into production as quickly as possible.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Fashion for the masses<\/b> had arrived and it was an instant success. Very soon, everyone was hurrying along to Galeries Lafayette<\/strong>, from the wealthy bourgeoisie to working class seamstresses, known as \u201cmidinettes\u201d, young women who only ever had time to grab a quick snack in their lunchbreak! A vast banner appeared, draped across the store fa\u00e7ade on rue La Fayette, announcing: \u201cGaleries Lafayette, the best merchandise in all of Paris.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n The store continued to grow and expand its product range<\/b>, adding menswear, furniture, toys and tableware departments to its more traditional ranges.<\/p>\n\n\n Unwavering in their mission to make design accessible to all, Galeries Lafayette<\/strong> extended its already firm commitment to fashion, to the world of applied arts and design. In 1922, the department store opened \u201cLa Ma\u00eetrise\u201d<\/b> applied arts workshops under the artistic direction of Maurice Dufr\u00eane<\/strong>. The aim of these workshops was to produce \u201cworks\u201d (furniture, fabric, carpets, wallpaper, pottery etc.) accessible to budgets both large and small. Designers and twin brothers Jean and Jacques Adnet<\/strong> were amongst the first collaborators.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Despite the recession in 1929, Galeries Lafayette<\/strong> embarked on further expansions on the Boulevard Haussmann. In 1932<\/b>, the flagship store was renovated by transatlantic liner architect Pierre Patout<\/strong>, in Art D\u00e9co style, with the addition of Ren\u00e9 Lalique<\/strong> bow windows.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Between 1941 and 1944<\/b>, Galeries Lafayette<\/strong> was \u201caryanised\u201d<\/b>: its founders were ousted during the Occupation and the business placed under the administration of the Vichy government until the Liberation. In the aftermath of the Second World War\u2019s bleak years, the business began to stage an economic recovery.<\/p>\n\n\n\n To meet the challenges of the post-war period, Galeries Lafayette<\/strong> underwent a complete makeover. The flagship store kick-started its modernisation by unveiling the highest escalator<\/b> in Europe, in the Christmas of 1951. Shortly afterwards, the interior halls were phased out of operation and, between 1957 and 1959, the building was raised by two more floors.<\/b><\/p>\n\n\n\n Architectural modernisation was accompanied by expanding the product range, thanks to setting up a design office in 1952, creating the post of Fashion<\/i> Director<\/i>, sourcing products from abroad and launching new promotions. This new growth phase also saw the store play host to large international exhibitions<\/b>. The first, in May<\/b> 1953<\/b>, was dedicated to \u201cThe Best of Italian Manufacturing\u201d. Many more were to follow: \u201cThe U.S.A.\u201d in 1961, \u201cAfrica\u201d in 1972, \u201cThe USSR\u201d in 1974 and also \u201cFaces of India\u201d in 1995.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The accessibility of design for all remained the company\u2019s key focus and it went on to devise the \u201cFestival of French Design\u201d in 1954. The festival included an awards ceremony rewarding \u201cgood taste at good value for money, instead of bad taste at high prices\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Other events subsequently proved to be firm favourites with its customers like the classic \u201c3J\u201d promotion. Launched on Saturday 4th October 1958, the store organised \u201cA Day like no other\u201d. It was a huge success and from October 1959<\/b> onwards, became known as \u201c3J\u201d<\/b>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In the early sixties, young designers began launching their ready-to-wear<\/b> lines, sitting between haute couture and traditional tailoring. Each season Galeries Lafayette<\/strong> would showcase these new talents by providing them with small boutiques or concessions<\/i> in the store. The first designer to hit the big-time was Laura, in 1962, which later went on to become Sonia Rykiel<\/strong>. Then it was the turn of Daniel Hechter<\/strong>, Pierre Cardin<\/strong>, Cacharel<\/strong>, Yves Saint-Laurent<\/strong> and Doroth\u00e9e Bis<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In 1969<\/b> a new store was opened on the other side of rue de Mogador, initially dedicated to young fashion and christened \u201cLe Club 20 Ans\u201d. For the first time, this club gathered together several different product ranges (clothing, pharmacy, music) embodying this particular lifestyle. Lafayette 2 was then taken over by men\u2019s fashion, and later expanded with the addition of Lafayette Food & Drink<\/strong> in 1990. This is how Galeries Lafayette<\/strong> became the first \u201curban facilities centre\u201d<\/b>, bringing together boutiques, customer services, parking and direct access to the underground.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In 1974<\/b>, a new chapter began with the removal of the legendary central staircase<\/b> and then, a decade on, the central ground floor was reconfigured to make way for high-end boutiques.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In 1980<\/b>, Galeries Lafayette<\/strong> created its \u201cFashion Festival\u201d<\/b>. Right up until 1999<\/b>, the \u201cFestival Oscars\u201d would select the best designs created for Galeries Lafayette<\/strong>, and invite prestigious artistic directors to stage their shows. The list of famous names kept on coming: Karl Lagarfeld<\/strong>, Robert Wilson<\/strong>, J\u00e9r\u00f4me Savary<\/strong>, Marie-Claude Pietragalla<\/strong>, David LaChapelle<\/strong>, etc. In 1984<\/b>, the store celebrated the opening of its designer department with its \u201cFrance has got talent\u201d<\/b> exhibition, which welcomed Azzedine Ala\u00efa<\/strong>, Jean-Paul Gaultier<\/strong>, Thierry Mugler<\/strong> and Jean-Charles de Castelbajac<\/strong>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n In 2001<\/b>, the brand went even further upmarket and enlisted the services of Jean-Paul Goude<\/strong> to manage its public relations. His first advertising campaign \u201cThe adventures of Laetitia Casta in the land of Galeries Lafayette<\/strong>\u201d, marked the beginning of a long and fruitful relationship. The photographer would go on to breathe new life into the brand with his nonconformist campaigns, always embodying Galeries Lafayette<\/strong>\u2019s core values.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In 2004<\/b>, the Marks and Spencer store on Boulevard Haussmann was transformed into Lafayette Maison<\/strong>, following the company\u2019s purchase of all Marks and Spencer stores in France in 2001. Since then, Galeries Lafayette<\/strong> has proudly enjoyed a triple presence on the Boulevard Haussmann.<\/p>\n\n\n Galeries Lafayette<\/strong> has long enjoyed strong links with the worlds of fashion and contemporary design<\/b>. The Haussmann department store regularly hosts prestigious events, showcasing key designers of the moment as well as introducing its customers to artists whose work has endured the test of time.<\/p>\n\n\n\nPROMISING BEGINNINGS OF A PARISIAN SHOP<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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\u201cA LUXURY BAZAAR\u201d<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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CELEBRITIES STAYING IN PARIS CAME TO GALERIES LAFAYETTE<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\u201cTHE BEST MERCHANDISE IN ALL OF PARIS\u201d<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
GROWTH AND DIVERSIFICATION: MENSWEAR AND HOME ITEMS<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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NEW BUSINESS MODEL<\/em><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
LAFAYETTE 1, 2, 3<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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SERVING DESIGN: FREE-ENTRY ART GALLERY<\/h2>\n\n\n\n