Quelle Horreur!
It was almost a month ago, the 20th of May to be exact, when furrylittlegnome stepped into the Petit Bateau store in Boston. She could not believe her eyes! The store was rearranged. Boxes were everywhere. Signs reading “30% off” were placed throughout its 171 Newbury Street location. Then, Dan, the store manager, came over and broke the news softly to gnome, “We’re closing. We actually started our sale today…”
With stores dotting the globe, including all over the European continent, Asia and soon, only one store in America (Beverly Hills), the Petit Bateau clothing brand is known throughout the world for its luxury cotton pieces for men, women and children. In 1893, Pierre Valton created the brand in Troyes, France and made cotton underwear for French soldiers in World War I. After listening to a children’s song in the early 1900s, Petit Bateau became a luxury underwear brand for children. Since then, Petit Bateau has expanded into nightwear and daywear.
The brand’s big break came from an unlikely source. If you can believe it, we have Karl Lagerfeld to thank. Yes, that Karl Lagerfeld of Chanel fame. In 1996, Lagerfeld dressed his models in Petit Bateau t-shirts and sales took off. Hence, Petit Bateau added sizes 14-18 years (more recently size 20 years) to fit small framed adult women and added color into its palate.
The storewide markdown is now 40%. As word of mouth has spread throughout the Boston area, the inventory has dwindled rather quickly. Boxes full of free hangers line the store entrance. Longtime customers, including furrylittlegnome, have been given tokens of appreciation (gnome scored the original Petit Bateau print in a frame that once hung in the store and some old fashion pins).
There was a recurring song that played throughout the store, and those of us who spent time there did not know if we could listen to the child say “Petit Bateau” once more, but there will come a time, pretty soon, as a matter of fact, when we will actually miss it.
I’m so sorry for your loss FLG. I’m sure this is a difficult time for you and your closet. Please know you will be in my thoughts.
Thank you, FF. I hope, during your time in Boston, you were able to visit Petit Bateau!
Bummer on the store closure, but on the bright side it looks like a buyers market at Petit Bateau! I’m sure a new awesome store will take its place.
Oh yes, furrylittlegnome has been stocking up! It looks like an the art gallery in the building may be expanding…
I am sure you will have good memories of that Store when you walk past it in days to come.
Thank you, Jo. Furrylittlegnome will, indeed…
The bitter-sweet feeling of a store closing.
Goodbye Petit Bateau!!!
Exactly – especially when it was a staple in furrylittlgnome’s wardrobe… however, there will still be the website, and trips around the globe just to buy pajamas and t-shirts…
C’est dommage đŸ˜”
Dang, nothing lives forever does it? I guess in our current state of economy one should be wondering and thankful for the length of time some of our favorite places have stayed open.
Just try and find a really good bakery that isn’t incoporated in a mega mart. And actual service when buying a pair of shoes? If they have at least one store left in the states maybe you can order online? Though I know it’s not the same…
Hugs to you.
I know that brand – I know the feeling – quality cotton is a fine thing to hold in the hand.
I Nominate you for Bouquet of Super Awards – 27 Nominations
please choose any 3 awards out of the 27
accept it and oblige
there are no linkbacks for this award
http://ajaytao2010.wordpress.com/2013/06/24/bouquet-of-super-awards-27-nominations/