Achilles Well-Heeled Vision
CAMPERLAB creative director Achilles ion Gabriel unveils a new retail concept in the historic district of Marais in Paris
By Roxanne Robinson
When Finnish designer Achilles ion Gabriel moved to Paris almost twenty years ago, he had a small workspace at 15 rue Debelleyme. Now, fast forward two decades. Ion Gabriel is the creative director for CAMPER and CAMPERLAB and is celebrating the opening of the first solely dedicated CAMPERLAB store in Paris at the exact location of his old workspace. Ac Magazine caught up with Gabriel on opening night to discuss the new space he created with Crosby Studios founder and creative director Harry Nuriev.
With guests spilling out of the 495-square-foot prime corner store located in the Marais, ion Gabriel, 37, dressed head-totoe in CAMPERLAB, stepped aside from the crowd to explain the full circle moment by pointing to a window in a minuscule place that now houses a handcrafted jewelry store.
“My office was just right there; can you believe it?” Gabriel said, recalling the days when he worked on his own shoe label. “It’s the same address, and the person there is doing accessories, too, so it’s the same story that comes full circle.” Today, the designer primarily lives in Mallorca, closer to the headquarters of the Spanish-based brand.