scoute.org | Tres Bien

store feature
Très Bien
by Richard Lam

Tres Bien, a small Swedish store, has had a strong online presence for several years along with a physical location in Malmo. Carrying several brands hard to find in Scandinavia, the store is also opening a second location early next year. Scoute talked to owner Hannes and discussed his mullings on what’s happening in Sweden this winter.

Tell us a bit about Très Bien and what it has to offer.
Très Bien Shop is a blend of brands and designers from which we think are the best in segments we cover. All the way from street wear to high end fashion (almost), everything with a clean, yet laid back touch. In January 09 we're opening a new location, a 400sqm space at a secret location without any windows. In there we will do small corner shops with our biggest brands such as APC, Comme, Henrik Vibskov and Our Legacy. Department store thinking done in an avant garde way.

What is your favourite label you currently stock?
At the moment I am really excited about the Patrik Ervell collection and the A/W collection which is dropping soon is so good. Clean look, basic styles but everything made with a feeling of luxury in the fabrics and tailoring. I am also really looking forward to our friends at Our Legacys A/W collection. We started working with them when they started a few seasons ago with 3 different prints on a t-shirt. But they had big plans and the collection for A/W ‘08 contains suits, jackets, knits, denim, shoes, bags and the best shirts you can get.

What are you looking forward to from the labels you're going to be stocking for this season?
Top favourite pieces for A/W 08 will be:

Gold Air Jacket - Patrik Ervell. Rough canvas fabric and silk lining. A great piece.

Wool Coat from Our Legacy - Wear it like a parka with the hood attached or flip down the collar, take off the hood and dress up. Two different expressions in one coat!

Head Porter Bag Line – Hi-tech materials and lots of pockets. Day packs, ruck sacks, iPod cases, bean bags and weekenders.

What do you think is the trend for Autumn/Winter?
Since we work with so many different brands in various segments it is hard to pick out one specific trend. All though, the more updated "dressed-up" look will be more evident this season. Brogues, buttons down shirts in rough fabrics and wool pants in a wider cut.

What about yourself, what will you be wearing this Fall?
Probably a lot of things but if I need to pick out one outfit. Wool pants from A.P.C., oxford shirt from Our Legacy, Martin Margiela knitwear, Pierre Hardy x Kitsuné Desert Boots and a cashmere bomber from Patrik Ervell. At least that is the outfit that I'd like to wear.

Are there any outside influences which affect the labels/clothes you stock?
We try not to look at our colleagues in the business as we never look at what happens in Sweden. We try to do the opposite of what people are doing here since everybody intends to do the same thing with the same designers here.

Although we pick up inspiration when we travel around and get a lot of inspiration from architecture and the surroundings. Magazines also have a lot to offer when you're building a web-site.

You mention that you try to give Très Bien a unique look. How would you say Scandinavian fashion differs from the rest of Europe?
Scandinavian fashion, Swedish in particular has a tendency to always follow in the same tracks. That includes designers, brands, shops etc. It has been a lot of talk of the "Swedish clean look" for a few years but no focus on building the brand and the feeling around the brand (Acne, Our Legacy not included). Although, Swedish fashion is of course influenced by the bigger fashion cities like: Paris, London and Milano and what takes place there we try to give it some kind of Scandinavian twist.

Thanks to Hannes for taking time out of his busy schedule to give us an insight on Très Bien - hopefully we'll be back in January to get the scoop and updates of their new store.

visit Très Bien at tresbienshop.net