Picture
Caption: Finding SAINT JAMES
Caption: Take me to the mothership.
Normandy, August 2014
Picture
Caption: Theoretically, we were going on a trip to Mont Saint-Michel...
Picture
Picture
Caption: But my and everyone's favourite maker of classic striped cotton sailor tops or marinières, Saint James, has a flagship store very close to Mont Saint-Michel. We headed there first.
Picture
Caption: But there was no stock except an unopened delivery and the staff was not very interested in either opening it or helping us.
We left, empty handed.
Picture
Caption: But! Undeterred, we headed straight to the horse's mouth, to see Madame DuPont who had a shop selling Saint James in the eponymous town.
Caption: Unfortunately Madame DuPont had retired and her shop was shuttered. She had left a note on the door that there was a new Saint James boutique at its HQ.
Picture
Caption: THE MOTHERSHIP
Caption: It took some trial and error to find the industrial estate outside town. Then: reception, production, logistics... Boutique!
Picture
Caption: I was sure it would be closed as it was 6pm and the staff was vacuuming.
Picture
Caption: But they welcomed us into the mothership with open arms and there we found all the stripes you could ever desire.