Menswear Label Le Père Expands Westward with Los Angeles Flagship Store
A vibrant hybrid retail and events space, Le Père is expanding its distinctive brand of community-driven style to the West Coast. Following the success of its Lower East Side flagship in New York, the menswear label is opening its doors in Los Angeles this Tuesday, November 14th, at 8507 Melrose Avenue.
Le Père, meaning "The Father" in French, boasts a unique approach to retail, drawing upon the founders’ deep roots in the music industry.
"With the continued success of all the artist events we’ve been doing here in New York, tons of folks have been like, ‘You obviously have a pretty extensive artist network and there’s so many musicians and whatnot based in Los Angeles — are you guys ever going to do anything out there?” recalled Abhi Janamanchi, Le Père’s brand director. "We just felt like it was the right time for us to have a hub out West given so much of our community and network being out there, and also just the fact that L.A. is such a big cultural center point especially within the music scene.”
While locations like Silver Lake and Highland Park mirrored the ambiance of the New York flagship, Le Père ultimately chose Melrose Avenue.
“[We wanted] a space that felt a little bit more elevated, where we could really create a destination,” Janamanchi explained.
The Los Angeles store was designed with the West Coast in mind, taking inspiration from skateparks and theaters. Le Père collaborated with Bond Architecture, the firm responsible for their New York location, to create a space featuring striking wooden bleachers designed to face each other, creating a designated performance area.
"We took a bit of a different approach building these wooden bleacher-like structures that face each other on either side and the middle spaces where you can walk through the performance area,” Janamanchi described. . "It’s nice because it’s a very modular kind of space in that way, and that while the wooden bleachers are set up to face one another, you can also shift them around. It creates this almost theater-like setup that you can see what’s happening in that performance area.”
This performance space will be the heart of Le Père’s Los Angeles experience, hosting a diverse range of events, echoing the brand’s successful community-focused approach in New York. Think block parties featuring prominent artists like J Balvin and Omar Apollo, and more.
“We’re really just trying to replicate a lot of the success we’ve had [in New York] and not in just artists events, but I think the goal is to create a communal hub,” Janamanchi shared. “We felt like that was missing. A number of people, like between friends and other people that we would meet across creative fields in L.A., they were just like, the retail space here is missing a more community-driven, communal retail store that offers things outside of just like shopping experiences.”
The Los Angeles store will carry Le Père’s two seasonal collections, as well as various limited edition drops throughout the year. The brand is also expanding its offerings with new product lines, including candles, handbags, and a growing accessories collection.
"We don’t see this as a traditional retail approach,” Janamanchi emphasized. “My partner and I don’t come from a retail background. Coming from the music industry, the thing that we knew that we are really good at doing is bringing people together and finding really talented people. We definitely didn’t take a traditional retail approach to the New York store, and we haven’t done that here in L.A. All the people that we’ve hired have come from our own personal communities and are people that have a direct connection to us or the brand.”
While the focus is currently on the two flagship stores, Le Père has its sights set on future expansion, with potential locations in Miami, London, and South Korea on the horizon.
Campaign imagery from Le Père’s winter 2024 collection.
Courtesy of Le Père
Campaign imagery from Le Père’s winter 2024 collection.
Courtesy of Le Père
## Le Père Brings the Vibe West: An Interview with Brand Director Abhi Janamanchi
**World Today News**: Le Père’s arrival in Los Angeles is generating quite a buzz.What sparked the decision too expand westward?
**Abhi Janamanchi**: It really came from a combination of factors. We’ve had astounding success with our artist events in New York, and many peopel within our network – musicians, artists, creatives – are based in Los Angeles.There was a constant request: “When are you coming to L.A.?” We felt there was a real hunger for the Le Père experience on the West Coast, especially given L.A.’s vibrant music scene.
**WTN**: Why Melrose avenue specifically?
**AJ**: We looked at a few options, but Melrose felt right. We wanted a space that exuded a bit more sophistication than, say, Silver Lake or Highland Park, which are great areas, but we wanted to create a true destination.
**WTN**: The store’s design is incredibly unique, with those striking wooden bleachers inspired by skateparks and theaters. Can you tell us more about the vision behind it?
**AJ**: We collaborated again with Bond Architecture, who did our New York flagship. This time, we wanted to create a space that was modular and transformative. The bleachers facing each other create a designated performance area, almost like a mini-theater. We can shift these bleachers around to adjust the layout for different events.
**WTN**: Speaking of events, Le Père in New York is known for its incredible block parties featuring artists like J Balvin and Omar Apollo. What can Angelenos expect from the Los Angeles location?
**AJ**: We’re aiming to recreate that same energy and community vibe. Think live music, art installations, workshops, even film screenings. We want to be more than just a retail store; we want to be a cultural hub.
**WTN**: What sets le Père apart from other menswear brands?
**AJ**: We don’t see ourselves as a traditional retail brand. Our backgrounds are in music, and that’s reflected in our approach.we’re about bringing people together, fostering a sense of community, and showcasing emerging talent. We want people to come in, hang out, discover new music, engage with our events, and feel a part of something bigger.
**WTN**: what new product lines can customers expect to see in Los angeles?
**AJ**: In addition to our two seasonal menswear collections, we’re pushing into new territory with candles, handbags, and an expanding accessories line. We’re always experimenting and looking for fresh ways to express the Le Père aesthetic.
**WTN**: What are your ultimate goals for Le Père in Los Angeles?
**AJ**: We want to be seen as a vital part of the L.A. creative community. A platform for emerging talent, a space for people to connect, and a source of truly unique fashion and lifestyle experiences.
