The founder of the ready-to-wear brand Ami, who recently opened a massive store in the center of Paris, has also entered the film world.
When catching up with Alexandre Mattiussi, it is best to leave any journalistic fixation with the idea of the tormented couturier at the door. As usual, he seems to be doing desperately well. Sharp-eyed, his words darting about, he bounces between his chair and the window overlooking Place des Victoires in the heart of Paris to relight a cigarette.
He rattles off phrases like “emotional alignment,” “natural optimism,” and “gratitude for each milestone,” then pulls aside the curtain to reveal a paper cup on the floor filled with salt crystals, supposed to ward off negative energy. In a few months, it will be 15 years since the designer launched Ami, a brand known for its positive values and results. “Just clothes,” he likes to say of his classic shirts, wide-legged pants and sweaters with a logo that combines an A and a heart, pieces that have met with broad success.
