Opposing Forces

Acne Studios embraces juxtaposition at its new Paris headquarters, set inside a historic mansion and lab

- DANA THOMAS

Acne Studios, the Stockholm-based fashion brand known for its off-kilter minimalism and avant-garde denim, had long kept several satellite offices around Paris's Le Marais district. This allowed the label to be more plugged into the international fashion scene—and made it easier to stage its ready-to-wear shows locally twice a year. But dashing from one building to another for meetings wasn't a terribly efficient way of working. Finally, company cofounder and creative director Jonny Johansson decided it was time to bring everything under one roof.