Atelier Mayer’s Timeless Season: Vintage 1900-2000

“If a design can withstand time, then it is a solid investment.” These days, as we are all looking for value and investment pieces in our fashion choices, this is a highly relevant statement. This is also a passion, a talent and a dedication for Atelier Mayer, an online store offering a large inventory of classic vintage clothes from 1900 to 2000.

I had the pleasure of discovering the website through one of its occasional pop-up events in London. The collection of vintage designs of all types presented then certainly was as vast as any avid collector could wish for. Every piece has its own unique character, entirely imported from another time and era, and yet is in a perfect state, while the overall collection seems simply selected with an impeccable taste. There is in fact a great deal of talent behind the Atelier Mayer offering: the site is inspired by the late Klaudia Mayer, an Austrian haute couture tailor whose atelier was originally founded in 1927.

Carmen Haid, co-founder, whom I had the pleasure to meet this summer, is Mayer’s grand daughter. After a busy phase of her career in luxury PR and communications with Yves Saint Laurent, Celine, British Vogue and Tommy Hilfiger, she comes strong for Atelier Mayer, along with just as talented former editor and fashion journalist Alice Kodell, who is bringing the store concept to an editorial level, a key ingredient in the secret recipe of the attractive online store.

As I listened to Carmen, she mentioned to me her will to create new products, along with the vintage offering, products that would be made in partnership with designers. The will has turned into something real and highly attractive for that matter, as the cover of today’s Atelier Mayer homepage is the bespoke evening bag called MELANGE. The sumptuous clutch bag was created by Atelier Mayer in collaboration with couture house Jacques Fath — a top designer of the mid XXth century, whose clients included Ava Gardner, Greta Garbo and Rita Hayworth and apprentices such as future designers Hubert de Givenchy and Guy Laroche.

It seems indeed that when looking for new inspirations, the past might just be the wisest place to look for. And just as half a century onwards in time Jacques Fath is born again, it seems that any truly valuable dream is simply never too faded to turn into a new reality.