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"FacebookPinterest\n\nArnaud Faeh (second from left), and the WIP team in front of the new store location on Crosby Street in SoHo.\n\nSlightly elevated arms of heritage brands are hot right now, and there's one that's been chugging along in Europe for the better part of two decades that's about to hit your peripheral: Carhartt Work in Progress (WIP). WIP, like some other more fashion-forward versions of iconic workwear brands, is a completely separate entity in everything but the name: all the stuff is conceived, and created in France, and the creative director Arnaud Faeh, is a down-to-earth dude dead set on bringing their focus of fit, fabric, and functionality to that authentically-aware NYC consumer. We chatted with him over breakfast recently.\n\nFacebookPinterest\n\nThe GQ Eye: Why New York? Why now?\n\nArnaud Faeh: It's been a dream to be in New York... Not so much an obsession, but it's always been there. It's kind of a validation for our brand, and our team.\n\nGQ: It seems like a nice fit for the city... attitude-wise.\n\nFaeh: Absolutely. One of our cornerstones in Europe has been a certain authenticity. People are attracted to the brand, because of a respect for the worlds in which we operate. Our skate, and BMX teams, they're the guys that consistently respect the integrity of those sports: they hate that skateboarding is in the Olympics, for example. I think we're the same way with our respect for the iconic nature of workwear, and for creating something simple, functional; but just taking it up to the next level with fit, and fabrication.\n\nGQ: Tell us about your involvement, and personal history with the brand.\n\nFaeh: I've been creative director for 2-3 years, and before that I was assisting the guy who was in my current role, so I have been around the brand for a while. Honestly, the creative control Carhartt has let us have over in Europe has been beautiful. They're hands off. I'm so spoiled, that if I had to go work for another brand, I'm not sure I could. I might have to leave the industry [laughs].\n\nFacebookPinterest\n\nGQ: Many people here might not be familiar with WIP. How'd you find the brand?\n\nFaeh: I actually remember seeing the first space they had in London, it was a totally nondescript and non-branded storefront. It had one rack of clothing along a wall, and nothing else. The entire collection was camouflage. There were people waiting on the queue, all the way down the street, just to get in...\n\nGQ: Are you trying to bring that same attitude of kind of underground buzz to your NYC store?\n\nFaeh: Well, it's one of the reasons we love Crosby Street. It's like the last street in Soho not totally built up, so cool. We want that authentic New Yorker coming in, and checking us out. That's how we operate.\n\nCarhartt WIP will open its doors on Thursday. There is an event to celebrate the opening on Wednesday evening. The store is located at 119 Crosby Street, between Houston, and Prince."^^<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#string>
<http://www.gq.com/story/carhartt-work-in-progress-to-open-nyc-shop-on-thursday>