Bensimon
France
Bensimon is a French family brand whose business began with second-hand American clothing sold in Oran, Algeria, and moved to the Paris region in 1962. It is best known for dyed canvas tennis shoes, a ready-to-wear line and home goods.
| Origin | Oran, Algeria, then Paris region (1962) |
|---|---|
| Tennis shoes since | 1978 |
| Ready-to-wear since | 1984 |
| Home goods since | 1989 |
| Stores abroad | Tokyo, Yokohama, Seoul |
| Website | en.bensimon.com |
What is Bensimon?
Bensimon is a French fashion and lifestyle brand run by a family. According to the brand's own history, Charles Bensimon sold second-hand American clothing in Oran in the late 1940s, and the business moved to Kremlin-Bicêtre near Paris in 1962.
History
Key steps in the brand's timeline:
- 1960s and 1970s: military surplus and customised surplus pieces
- 1978: dyed canvas tennis shoes, starting with 100,000 white pairs from the French army
- 1984: a ready-to-wear line
- 1989: furniture and decoration alongside fashion, in a Paris Marais concept store
Serge Bensimon joined the family business in 1978 for style and design, and Yves Bensimon in 1983 for the commercial side.
Distribution
Bensimon has shown at Galeries Lafayette and in a Hong Kong pop-up at Lane Crawford, opened stores in Tokyo, Yokohama and Seoul from 2018, and runs an online shop serving many countries.
Why it matters
The brand shows how a surplus clothing trade grew into a recognised French label through a single product, the tennis shoe, and an early concept store.
Frequently asked questions
Where is Bensimon from?
Bensimon is a French brand whose family business began in Oran, Algeria, and moved to the Paris region in 1962.
What does Bensimon sell?
It sells canvas tennis shoes, ready-to-wear clothing, and furniture and home goods.