Le Colonel Moutarde: We talk to the folks behind London’s new bow tie shop
Nœud papillon is French for ‘bow tie’ and Le Colonel Moutarde is French for ‘the best bow ties’.
We fell in love with their online shop here and got in touch to ask LCM honchos Valentin & Clémence some burning questions about the new store off Brick Lane.
Le Colonel Moutarde | 10 Cheshire St, London, Shoreditch, E2 6EH | Shoreditch High Street Overground Station | Tuesday to Saturday 11:00 – 19:00 & Sunday: 11:00 – 18:00
Tell us about Le Colonel Moutarde – how did the Paris shop come about?
At the beginning Rémi – the designer – was looking for a bow tie to go to a wedding. Surprised to find too simple black bow ties, he made his first one by himself. He liked it so much that he started to do some other ones to extend his collection. Clémence, his partner, decided to open a blog to show what Rémi was doing, and Le Colonel Moutarde was born! A few months later, we opened together the 1st shop in Lille, and quickly the success was here. Valentin, Clémence’s little brother, added his support to open the 2nd shop in Paris and to present the original creations from Le Colonel Moutarde in the capital!
What is it about bow ties that you love so much?
Everything is about the fabrics! The creativity is totally endless; Rémi loves to hunt for new patterns or materials, new trends , etc. He finds new fabrics, he does a bow tie with it! Because it’s quite a small accessory, if you compare to a classic tie for example, you can really dare t0 wear an original piece without looking ‘too much’. The bow tie is the touch that gives you elegance, originality and timeless style.
Why bring the store to London? What should we expect to see when we come to the store?
We are based in Lille, in the north of France. We wanted to try the experience abroad – London was obvious for us: a trendy capital, with people really aware of the current fashion.
We bring Le Colonel Moutarde’s spirit to the new shop. In the heart of Shoreditch, you will find our whole collection of bow ties (more than 200) with the matching pocket squares and cufflinks. We have also launched a partnership with a Belgian brand to present some great braces. You will be surprised by the unique pieces that Rémi loves to create, exclusively made for the shops and not available anywhere else.
Tell us about a few of your favourite places to go to in Paris and London?
In Paris, you definitely have to lunch at Les Chouettes, an awesome restaurant over several floors with neat decoration – one of our favorite places when we are in Paris. Later in the day, I love to get a cocktail or a beer at L’Enigme (100 rue Quincampoix 75003) just near our shop. The atmosphere is all you expect to find in a great bar in Paris! When the sun is shining, I take a walk along the canal Saint Martin, an experience that all Parisians have had at least one time; or I take refuge in the Musée des Arts Décoratifs – their exhibitions are always amazing.
In London, we like some great places near the shop: Franze & Evans on Redchurch Street is our favorite place to get a great salad and an irresistible cake – even more when we are looking for a quick lunch! At night, the Netil 360 is the perfect rooftop to enjoy the sunset, with a glass of rosé. This bar is quite private and perfect to relax when we are in London.
I am Joint Editor at To Do List. I like free, cheap & offbeat London, especially: cabaret, art, theatre, pop-ups, eating out, quirky films, museums, day trips, social enterprise & much more.
