Après-Après Studio is a curated vintage clothing store. Fashionistas in the Mile End neighbourhood of Montreal can gather to find their next outfit while also being able to access other services such as alteration and clothing repair. We spoke with founder Simon to learn more about what they do to serve their stylish clientele.
Who is answering the questions and what is their position?
Simon, I am one of the 4 co-founders. I act as the main administrator and marketing director. But Après-Après is a small team, so we all do a little bit of everything! Decisions are always made as a team.
What is your business called and what does it do?
The business is called Après-Après. We sell curated vintage and true-vintage clothing. But we also repair and make alterations in the same space. Thus our name as we work with clothing in its second life. Après means After in french, we are what happens “après” the first life of a piece of clothing. We choose “Après-Après” as way of symbolizing our two main lines of work: vintage and repairs.
What made you want to do this work?
Our love for high quality, unique and old clothing, the firm believe that clothing should last and the believe that wear, tear and repairs is story being told.
What problem did you want to solve with the business?
We felt that there’s a lack in the vintage and second-hand clothing industry as most stores only try to sell high volumes. We wanted to offer a better way of consuming by offering a space where we sell high-quality and unique products and by offering a way of keeping those products for a long time in a seamless shopping experience.
Who are your clientele/demographics?
Our clientele is mostly vintage connoisseurs and younger people who have a high interest towards cool clothes that you can’t find anywhere.
How does your business make money? How does it work?
Our main revenue stream is selling vintage clothing and offering sewing services but we also rent clothing and offer styling services.
Where in the city can we find your profession?
The plateau Mont-Royal is really the hub for our line of work and is also where we are located!
What is the best question a prospective customer could ask a member of your profession when comparing services? Give the answer as well.
It would definitely be to ask us what we can do to save one of their favourite clothing item! Our answer would be based of the damages but we always do our best to give a second life to clothing.
What is the best part about what you do? What is the worst part?
The best parts is seeing all the cool and old clothing that comes in and learning about the history behind them! There aren’t really any bad parts, but I think that the washing of all the clothes we find might be the most boring part.
What is your favourite joke about your own profession?
Definitely the ongoing jokes about vintage lovers who wear high-quality work clothes only to go grab lattes in third-wave coffee shops!
Where can we follow you?
The best place is Instagram
PAY IT FORWARD: What is another local business that you love?
We definitely have to give a shout out to our friends at Club 777, Palmo Goods and One & Only!
