The Beginning
BRUT began with Paul Ben Chemhoun’s personal obsession: collecting French workwear. Long before it became a brand, it was a private archive — a growing collection of carefully sourced garments embodying craftsmanship, utility, and history. What started with vintage uniforms and workers’ jackets gradually expanded into a broader exploration of garment culture, from American denim to outdoor and military clothing.
Over time, this collection became more than an archive; it turned into a research foundation. Since 2016, it has served as a reference for major brands and fashion houses seeking authenticity and historical accuracy — including Margiela, Uniqlo, Gucci, Balenciaga, and Dior. What began as a personal archive evolved into a research showroom and creative laboratory where past and present inform each other.
This expertise naturally led us to create our own line.
The Brand
BRUT Collection was launched in 2020 as a contemporary wardrobe shaped by historical knowledge. Each piece reflects a commitment to timeless design, focusing on fabrics and garments meant to live, age, and evolve with the wearer.
Quality is central to our process. We collaborate with carefully selected manufacturing partners chosen for their craftsmanship and technical expertise, wherever they may be. Every fabric and construction decision reflects our commitment to durability and integrity.
At the core of BRUT is reinterpretation. We do not replicate vintage garments; we study and deconstruct them, translating their essence into modern silhouettes. The result is clothing that feels familiar yet relevant — rooted in heritage but designed for today.
Rather than following traditional fashion calendars, we release drops when the moment feels right — guided by research and creative momentum rather than industry timelines.
As Paul says: “We’re just a bunch of guys making what we want to make.”
The REWORK® Project
Through our REWORK® program, crafted in our Paris workshop, we transform vintage garments and existing materials into new pieces. Each one carries traces of its past, making every garment unique.
The project began in 2021 with our first drop reimagining Barbour jackets. Vintage pieces were sourced, carefully unpicked, and rebuilt from the inside out, recomposing panels and materials to create balanced, modern garments while preserving their history.
Today, the Barbour Rework Cropped Jacket has become one of BRUT’s signature pieces.
Paris — New York
Five years after launching, BRUT Archives opened its first U.S. store in New York. Today, BRUT distributes exclusively through our website and our two boutiques.
BRUT represents a culture of clothing — valuing research, craftsmanship, and longevity over trends.
We create garments with depth and integrity — building the vintage of tomorrow.
There is always something to learn from the past.
