This winter, Parisian concept store colette invited thirty friends to Val d’Isére in the French alps for their annual ski-club weekend. This year it was to launch a capsule collection of full ski-wear for men and women with newly re-launched, French brand Fusalp. Named by combining the name of its most revered invention, the full ski-suit stirrup pants, “fuseau” with “les alps”, Fusalp is fondly remembered by the French for hailing back to the golden era of skiing in 1964-1972 when it was worn by their national teams who dominated competitions at the time. Continuing the tradition, Fusalp sponsored the French bob-sleigh team at the Sochi Winter Olympics in 2014. This winter it relaunched with a fresh team at the helm, notably brother and sister Sophie and Philippe Lacoste, grand-children of René Lacoste, co-founder of the eponymous French sports brand. During Colette ski-club we took five minutes off-piste with Sarah Andelman, Creative Director of colette, to hear all about it and Christmas in Paris.
Are there any Christmas traditions at colette?
Of course, we give lots of Christmas gifts! We have been doing the Advent Calendar for two years now, this year it is the A la Mere de Famille x Darcel and it is doing really well; we have postcards for Season’s Greetings cards…
What are the typical French traditions at Christmas?
To eat “buche” for dessert, oysters, which is a classic along with foie gras, smoked salmon and blinis.
Does the seafood always come in big platters?
It really depends on people, but it can do yes.
How many editions of the colette Ski Club have there been?
It is the third year. The first time, we had three (Jan-Feb-Mar), last year we had only one, and this year also only one.
Can you tell us about the colette x Fusalp collab?
When we do a Ski Club, we link up with a brand. Fusalp came to us as they are relaunching the brand. They offered to do this small capsule, we asked Yorgo (Tloupas) to design the logo as he had designed the first ever colette Ski Club logo. It is a very simple capsule, like this jumper I am wearing, it is a classic that Fusalp has been making for years, with just added black and blue signature colette colors. We thought that for the launch we should wear the capsule collection on the slopes!
How do the French see the Fusalp brand? In terms of memories…
It started in 1952, the same year as Moncler, there are black and white photos of Audrey Hepburn, lots of famous people wearing Fusalp. I loved it when the brand showed me all these archive images. But personally as I am not skiing every year, I do not know what image it had these recent years but I know that now there is a new Fusalp, a fresh start with a new team that has the intelligence to approach stores like colette that are not specialised in skiwear.
Tell us about this ski-trip weekend…
We brought lots of friends to Val d’Isere, people who can ski as well as absolute beginners, just like we did in the past with the Surf Club. We had the chance to be in a very nice hotel (Le Blizzard), to share traditional meals like “raclette” (melted cheese with ham) and to ski with the Black Crows team of instructors such as Bruno Compagnet who’s one of the founders and a free-ski champion, who could teach different levels of ski to different groups. We also gave our guests free time to try the ice rink and the outdoor pool that looks up onto the mountain slope.
I heard there was supposed to be a ski championship? I was not aware of it!
Yes, I am very sad the Criterium was cancelled, we chose this location and hotel especially for that. From our rooms we would have had the best view, as the slope was all lit up for the occasion. The Criterium comp always happens when it first snows, so if it does not snow they have to cancel. The problem with skiing is that you depend on weather conditions. But we have been lucky as we had a little snow for our guests in what’s been a warm year.
Why a ‘ski’ club?
Why not? For a long time now we have wanted people to gather and have special quality time. It is an extension of the store, as the store offers the gallery and the restaurant, it is an open space, so for us it is natural to bring people together.
What did you do for Christmas?
We have a house in Woodstock NY, which we went to. Also, I should have said that earlier, for Christmas we always have a great window installed at colette, this year it was with an artist called Duy Anh who made a bear from dandelions. It was displayed on the two main windows. We always install our Christmas windows late, usually we change windows every week, but for Christmas we leave it for two weeks, unlike other stores that display for a whole month.
What about Christmas day? Is it the same as in England?
It really depends on the family. My own experience is to celebrate on Christmas eve, we have a big Christmas dinner, we open the presents either at midnight or on Christmas day, as early as breakfast time. Christmas day is more family time, go for a stroll, go to the cinema even. This has been my family tradition, but it depends on the family really.
What about New Year’s Eve? Were there any special colette happenings?
No, it was a quiet time for everyone, and then we started with the sale, which at colette started before everyone else, on the 2nd January.
Credits
Text Sarah Hay
Images courtesy of the Fusalp archive