Sometimes you bump into people who you immediately know were brought into the world with a strong sense of passion. Take Olivier Labaere, manager of Labaere Tailors, who, as the sixth generation, leads his father and grandfather's clothing business into the future with a firm but velvety hand.
Labaere Tailors is a renowned name when it comes to high-end clothing stores. People have been finding their way to the Zottegem store for over 160 years and have been perfectly guided by a passionate family in their search for high-quality, contemporary fashion. We went there on a drizzly and chilly October morning, and were warmly welcomed by Olivier Labaere (26), the youngest member of the family business.
The morning is busy and wet. Brave shoppers walk through the driving rain on the market square of Zottegem. It is market day and despite the gloomy autumn weather it is quite busy. Marchands stand there in loud voices praising their wares. The contrast with Labaere could not be greater. From the moment we enter the clothing store, we feel like we are in a different world. Stylish, contemporary-with-a-classic-twist and very spacious. The first thing we notice is the large selection.
“We recently completely renovated the store,” says Olivier Labaere, when he offers us a cup of coffee as an attentive host. “Today we offer casual chic ready-to-wear, tailor-made clothing, handmade shoes and a nice wine selection. The latter is an offshoot of another passion. The idea to integrate a wine boutique into the store came after a very beautiful evening in Italy. When I met Gianluca Di Taranto shortly afterwards, for me the best sommelier in Belgium, I asked him if he wanted to help me select the wines. He turned out to be enthusiastic and immediately liked the idea of a 'wine boutique in the men's clothing store'. Today, customers and wine lovers will find an exquisite selection of quality wines here, mainly white and red, with a number of rosés in summer. I am a big fan of the French Pomerol, Château Seraphine, a rather powerful red, and the very tasty white Batar.”
CLOTHES MAKE THE MAN
160 years. You can find Labaere Tailors in the Hoogstraat in Zottegem for that long. “The business has been in the same place since the very beginning,” says Olivier. “160 years is a long time, yes. I don't know of any other business that has lasted so long. Proof that we're doing it right, right? It is certainly true that the passion for the profession is in my blood. I do this with heart and soul, and want to promote the family values every day. Service, quality, care... are very important to Labaere. Customers feel it when you care about them and when you make time available. No matter what a customer's needs are, we will always treat everyone with the same respect. I recently heard a regular customer explain why he loved coming here so much: 'Do you know why I keep coming here? I only go clothes shopping twice a year, and I know that after a few hours at Labaere I will return home with a new wardrobe. The range is wide, the service impeccable and the after-sales care is unparalleled.' Nice words, but they are true: I have experienced over the years that most men do not like to shop every week, but buy new clothes as a they need something. And our customers almost always find something to their liking here. We can dress any man between 17 and 77, up to 4 XL.
We have also divided the store with the different services in mind: at the front you will find the more casual-chic section, at the back – in what we have baptized the Gentlemen's Club – people can return for a very personal custom made experience. If someone comes in asking for a new tailor-made suit, we reserve a few hours to put together a personally tailored suit, from scratch. We choose the fabrics together, look for a style, select buttons, etc. If you have a suit fitted today, you will walk out of it completely impeccable six to eight weeks later. And if a retouch is still necessary, we will do it free of charge.
What I personally think is a great asset is that we not only make custom chinos or jeans, cardigans or shirts, but that customers can also come here for a custom-made sweater. Sweaters in standard sizes do not have the ideal fit for everyone: one man has longer arms than another or a wider torso and a narrow waist. It is very nice to know that you can buy a sweater here that, with some adjustments, will fit you like a glove.”
ITALIAN, ENGLISH, SWEDISH … CLOTHED BY EUROPE
“My heart belongs to the tailor-made suit,” says Olivier. “I am not a tailor myself, but a tailor and have followed various courses, including in Savile Row, the London mecca of bespoke tailoring. Impressive, that's the least you can say, because everything is still made entirely by hand. By existing for so long, we have built up an excellent relationship with our suppliers, often family businesses. Like with the Belgian Scabal, for example. It is one of our longest running relationships. Scabal is really a big player in the world of fabrics, and few people know that it is a Belgian company. I think we can be a little more proud of that.”
“Today at Labaere you will find a beautiful, balanced mix between tailor-made, ready-to-wear suits from Lattore, Emporio Armani, Scabal and high-quality brands such as Ralph Lauren, Paul Smith, Parajumpers, Emporio Armani, Jacob Cohen… Pret-à-porter, so, but with the possibility to adjust everything in our own studio. Both men who only need jeans and a blazer and men who are looking for a fully tailor-made suit, a wedding suit or a tuxedo will find something to their liking here. And for men who hardly have time to come to the store themselves, we offer the traveling tailor service: I go to the customer's home or office with a selection of suit fabrics, take the measurements and create a personalized tailor-made suit together with the customer. together. I only work with the most beautiful fabrics, including from Scabal and Loro Piana.
A TOUR THROUGH THE BUSINESS
When we ask Olivier about his personal favorites, he enthusiastically takes us through the store. “Do we start with the shoes? The Italian Santoni is my absolute number one, because the brand succeeds in producing high-quality shoes that, once you put your foot in them, feel like a light slipper. Very pleasant, neutral and with subtle details. I am also a fan of Van Bommel or the slightly less well-known Magnani, and in terms of price-quality it is an absolute winner. If we switch to socks, I choose – again – the Italian Marcoliani, a brand that exclusively produces socks. Wool, cashmere, cotton… you'll find it all here.
A cardigan? Circolo, yes! Italian, with flair and thanks to the soft shoulders they fit a bit like a shirt. I think it is highly recommended. Also nice to wear together with jeans, of which I am quite a fan of the Italian Jacob Cohen, which has a very wide range in different washes, fits and finishes. Maybe another sweater? Paul Smith or the Swedish Stenströms – the Swedish purveyor – always do well, and have something for everyone. And as far as jackets go, I go for Herno. Italian, sober and stylish.”
Hoogstraat 7 up to and including 17 | 9620 Zottegem | T 09 360 02 47
info@labaere.be | NEW webshop: www.labaere.shop
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