| Marithé + François Girbaud | |
| Type: | joint-stock company |
| Foundation: | Paris, France (1972) |
| Founder: | François Girbaud and Marithé Bachellerie |
| Location City: | Neuilly-sur-Seine |
| Location Country: | France |
| Industry: | Fashion |
| Products: | clothes : jeans, coat, etc. |
| Revenue: | €900 million (1990) ; €200 million (2011)[1] |
| Key People: | Pierre Zelker |
| Parent: | Mad Lane |
| Subsid: | Matricule 11342 (1975), Compagnie des Montagnes et des forêts (1975), Closed (1976), Compléments (1979), Maillaparty (1979)... |
Marithé + François Girbaud is an international clothing company based in France and founded by stylists François Girbaud and Marithé Bachellerie in 1972.[2] [3] [4] They created several brands : Compagnie des montagnes et des forêts, Ça, Closed, Matricule 11342, etc.[5] They are world-known especially for industrialization of the stonewash (stone washing process), baggy trousers and skin-tight jeans.[6] [7] [8]
The fashion duo began their career working in the Parisian clothes shop Western House, in 1964.[9] Then Maurice Chorenslup, Pierre Zelcer and Jacques Rozenker helped the couple to create their first brands.[10]
The 1980s to 1990s were the decades of biggest successes for the French brand, with a $900 million worldwide turnover. In 2010, the group was still generating €200 million of revenue.[11]
In 1983, the Girbaud duo created costumes for Jennifer Beals and Michael Nouri, actors in the Flashdance movie.[12]
In 1992, Kris Kross, the rap/hip hop duo known for hit song "Jump", were wearing Girbaud's jeans in their music video.[13] [14] [15]
In 1995, Marithé et François began using new cutting and assembly techniques: laser, ultra-sound, techno-fusion.[16] They then launched the new bleu éternel process (1997), which prevents indigo denim from fading. The garment remains soft, comfortable and retains its main properties: depth and authenticity of color. Wattwash, the laser treatment of denim, artificially ages the fabric and reduces water consumption by 97.5%. This provides an opportunity to raise consumers' ecological awareness.[17] [18]
In June 2012, it was reported that Girbaud had filed for bankruptcy and that its websites were down.[19]
In 2015, Marithé Bachellerie and François Girbaud created a new company named Mad Lane (an itinerant concept store) but were still using the original name Marithé + François Girbaud.[20] [21]