Christophe Lemaire
Co-artistic director of Lemaire and of Uniqlo U
Christophe Lemaire is a French designer who leads the Paris house Lemaire together with Sarah-Linh Tran. After artistic direction roles at Lacoste and Hermès, he has focused on Lemaire since 2014 while co-directing Uniqlo U and the Uniqlo Research and Development Center in Paris.
| Role | Co-artistic director of Lemaire |
|---|---|
| Organisation | Lemaire, Paris |
| Own label founded | 1991 |
| Previous roles | Lacoste; Hermès women's ready to wear (2010 to 2014) |
| Uniqlo | Co-director of Uniqlo U and the Uniqlo Paris R&D Center |
Who is Christophe Lemaire?
Christophe Lemaire is a French fashion designer and the co-artistic director of Lemaire, a Paris house based at 11 Place des Vosges. The brand describes its style as timeless, Parisian, cosmopolitan and sophisticated, and its collections as balancing "form and function in thoughtful clothing and accessories designed for everyday life".
Career
Lemaire trained through apprenticeships, including at Christian Lacroix and other Paris design studios, before founding his own label in 1991. He went on to lead artistic direction at two major French brands, Lacoste and Hermès, where he was artistic director of women's ready to wear from 2010 to 2014. In these roles he refined the precise, understated approach that has become his signature.
Sarah-Linh Tran, who trained as a literary publisher, joined the house as co-artistic director in 2010. Since 2014 Lemaire has focused exclusively on the label they lead together, which works with modular silhouettes, distinctive materials and construction details designed for layering and longevity, using fabrics sourced primarily from Europe and Japan.
Uniqlo U
Alongside Lemaire, Christophe Lemaire and Sarah-Linh Tran co-direct the Uniqlo Research and Development Center in Paris and the Uniqlo U line. The partnership brings their design approach to one of the world's largest apparel retailers and translates it into well made basics produced at scale.
- Own label founded in 1991
- Artistic direction at Lacoste and Hermès
- Co-direction of Lemaire with Sarah-Linh Tran since 2010
- Co-direction of Uniqlo U and the Uniqlo Paris R&D Center
Influence on the fashion business
Lemaire's work sits at the intersection of independent designer fashion and mass retail. The house has built an international following without relying on logos or seasonal spectacle, while the Uniqlo collaboration shows how a design led studio can shape product for a global retailer. The model illustrates how creative direction can be separated from ownership and applied across very different price points.
Why it matters
At a time when much of the industry chases novelty, Lemaire has become a reference for durable, functional clothing and for a quieter form of luxury. His long running partnership with Uniqlo is also one of the clearest examples of designer expertise being used to raise the quality and longevity of everyday products in volume retail.
Frequently asked questions
Who is Christophe Lemaire?
Christophe Lemaire is a French designer who leads the Paris house Lemaire with Sarah-Linh Tran. He previously led artistic direction at Lacoste and Hermès.
What is Christophe Lemaire's role at Uniqlo?
Together with Sarah-Linh Tran he co-directs the Uniqlo Research and Development Center in Paris and the Uniqlo U line. The partnership applies Lemaire's functional design approach to Uniqlo's mass market basics.