Biography
Founding French clothing brand A.P.C. in 1987, Jean Touitou’s simple and minimalistic designs, serving as an antithesis to the extravagant fashions of the decade, quickly gained popularity with Parisian youths. Initially launched as a menswear only range, Touitou debuted a womenswear line soon after following demand from the brands already established female clientele. Today, A.P.C employs around 500 people with around 65 locations across Paris, New York, Melbourne, Tokyo and more.
Renowned for its unconventional yet successful collaborations, Touitou regularly partners with American brand Carhartt and Argentinian designer Vanessa Seward on limited edition collections. In 2013 and 2014, Touitou collaborated with Kanye West, releasing sell-out eight piece capsule collections comprised of t-shirts, hooded sweatshirts and jeans. Following its success, A.P.C struck a partnership with rapper Kid Cudi and art director, editor and stylist Suzanne Koller in 2019, initiating the brand project, "Interaction", under which Touitou will ensure more upcoming collaborative capsule collections.
Having no educational background in design, Touitou secured a job as an office assistant for Japanese designer Kenzo in the late 70’s through friends who worked at the label. Having left to pursue an unsuccessful attempt at launching his own record label, Touitou returned to Kenzo as an accountant before founding his own label soon after in a small store on Rue Princesse, which he funded through working as a ghost designer for brands such as Joseph’s of London. In 1992 the designer’s work was recognised by the French non-profit committee ANDAM who named him as winner of their prestigious fashion award for that year. By 1993, the brand had opened several international stores including a New York and Tokyo location, further opening a mail catalogue in 1995 and its first website in 1997, as the brand developed.
An unconventional fashion designer, in 2008 Touitou opened a private kindergarten school Ateliers de la Petite Enfance (A.P.E.) aimed at providing a fundamental learning and resources for young children. In 2009, Touitou introduced the "Butler" service to A.P.C, providing his customers with an opportunity to exchange old jeans for a new pair at half the price. In 2017, the designer published the book titled "A.P.C Transmission", chronicling the conception of the brand and its minimalistic aesthetic to celebrate its 30th anniversary. Touitou now works alongside his wife Judith, who is the artistic director of A.P.C.