Open Market, the heat of Montauban !
Time to hit the road, direction Montauban! With his sunny, singing accent, Daniel took us on a journey. A true lover of his region, he is passionate about fashion and an avid fan of 70s counter-culture. After years spent living in Paris, he wanted to share his experience with the people of Montauban, and opened four shops offering fashion, decoration and lifestyle objects.
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Hi Daniel! We’re far from the world of finance here, so why choose the name “Open Market” for your shop?
You must have searched for the literal meaning of “open market”, but it’s far from the world of finance. The name Open Market is an allusion to a Parisian boutique from the 70s that focused on counter-culture and the garage movement. It’s also a reference to the alternative press and open movements of my generation.
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Were you already working in the fashion world before you decided to open your own shop? Can you tell us a bit more about how you got here?
I have always worked in fashion. I began working at Commandeur in Montauban, where I am from. Then, I headed to Paris. I worked for a long time at Agnès B. as a shop manager. I am a great admirer of that woman, for me, she’s the mother of the new cultural wave that emerged in the 70s. She discovered Basquiat and started mixing genres, fashion, art, music, graphics. Then, I was a buyer for Bensimon and for Blue Box’s sixty shops. These last fifteen years, I started four different shops in Montauban: La Manufacture, Open Market, La Boutique Chic and General Store.
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You offer loads of different products, from art books to the Opinel knife and cosy Charentaise slippers. How do you go about selecting what you want to sell?
I’ve just spent four days going to loads of fairs and shops to find inspiration for the shop’s decoration and to find new products; you should have come with me. I go about things like people used to years ago, meaning I do want I want, and I try to not follow trends. I choose things according to my desires and especially my own tastes.
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What did you find appealing about Olow?
First off, your sales representative, as we have the same outlook on life and we’re from the same generation. But I especially felt that the brand is interesting because it’s so dynamic. You can sense the artists behind the clothes, young creatives who have ideas, who are enterprising.
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If you had to choose your favourite product of ours from any collection, which one would it be?
I’d have to say the Drukkin sailor sweater, but more broadly, I find that the graphic t-shirts really make a difference each season.
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How do you go about decorating the shop?
Like what I just said, I like shopping for objects here and there, according to my current desires. I received a jazz catalogue earlier, for example, and I thought we could focus the next theme around jazz.
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Montauban is full of charm, what would you say is the best place to party there?
Lulu la Nantaise, definitely, every Friday night, with concerts and DJ sets. Lulu is a bar-brasserie in the heart of Montauban that I created with an old friend of mine.
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OPEN MARKET
3, rue d’Auriol
82 000 Montauban
