Le Gaulois Jeans

Le Gaulois Jeans is a French denim brand that designs and manufactures jeans in France, with a strong emphasis on natural and organic fibres, local production and fair pricing across the supply chain. Its website presents the label as a maker of "jeans français en lin et chanvre de Normandie" — French jeans in Normandy linen and hemp — produced by French artisans. The brand's core promise combines thermoregulating natural fabrics, French manufacturing "from the first sprout of flax to our workshop near Lyon", a fair price intended to pay everyone in the production chain decently, and durability so that a pair of jeans lasts for many years. The product range is organised around women's and men's jeans. Women's models include Noa (stretch organic cotton), Avenia (100% organic cotton, straight cut), Tarba and Flavia (62% organic cotton / 38% linen), and Condate (100% linen) in blue, black and natural colourways. Men's models include Noé (stretch organic cotton), Darius (98% organic cotton / 2% elastane), Avenio (100% organic cotton), Ruscino and Cargus (62% organic cotton / 38% linen), and Lugdunum (100% linen). Prices shown on the site range from around €129 for stretch organic-cotton jeans to €180 for 100% linen models, with free delivery in France from two jeans. The brand's story is explicitly a family one. The workshop where today's jeans are made was founded in 1974 by the founder's parents; at that time the "Le Gaulois" brand did not yet exist, but the workshop already produced jeans for many French brands and employed around 30 people. Jean-Charles Tchakirian, who grew up in the workshop, took over from his parents in 1995. In August 2003 the business was hit hard by globalisation and the opening of the Chinese market, as clients shifted to very low-cost imported jeans; the workshop was destroyed by this shift, according to the brand's own account. Le Gaulois Jeans presents its relaunch as the result of support from French customers, allowing the family workshop to be revived. Production is located at Décines-Charpieu near Lyon, and the brand positions itself on transparency, French savoir-faire and sustainability rather than on volume or fast fashion.

Le Gaulois Jeans traces its roots to a family denim workshop founded in 1974 by the parents of Jean-Charles Tchakirian. At that time the "Le Gaulois" brand did not yet exist: the workshop produced jeans for numerous French brands and, according to the brand's own history page, employed around 30 people. Jean-Charles grew up in the workshop, surrounded by the smell of fabric and the daily life of denim manufacturing. In 1995 his parents handed him the business, and he took charge of the family company. The turning point came in August 2003, when globalisation and the opening of the Chinese market transformed the industry. French clients began buying jeans produced at the other end of the world, made with intensively farmed cotton at very low prices. The brand's account describes clients explaining that they would have liked to keep working with the workshop but could not, because competitors were sourcing in China and prices would have had to be divided by three. The workshop was effectively destroyed by this shift. Le Gaulois Jeans presents its revival as the result of support from French customers, which allowed the family workshop to be relaunched. The brand now manufactures in France, at Décines-Charpieu near Lyon, and builds its identity around French savoir-faire, natural and organic fibres, and a fair price that remunerates the whole production chain. Its materials include Normandy linen and hemp as well as organic cotton, and its range covers women's and men's jeans in straight and other cuts, with prices from around €129 to €180. The brand also emphasises durability, offering a first size exchange free of charge and a 30-day full refund policy, and it ships from stock within three working days or makes jeans to order in two to three weeks.

• 2003

  Globalisation and the opening of the Chinese market cause clients to shift to low-cost imports, devastating the workshop.

• 1995

  Jean-Charles Tchakirian takes over the family business from his parents.

• 1974

  Jean-Charles Tchakirian's parents found the family denim workshop that still makes today's jeans.

• Le Gaulois Jeans is relaunched with support from French customers, producing jeans in France near Lyon.

Sustainable, made-in-France denim with natural fibres (Normandy linen, hemp, organic cotton), fair pricing across the production chain and long-lasting quality.

• Noa

  Women's stretch organic cotton jeans, €129.

• Noé

  Men's stretch organic cotton jeans, €129.

• Avenia

  Women's 100% organic cotton straight-cut jeans, €140.

• Avenio

  Men's 100% organic cotton jeans, €140.

• Tarba

  Women's 62% organic cotton / 38% linen straight-cut jeans, €154.

• Flavia

  Women's 62% organic cotton / 38% linen jeans, €154.

• Ruscino

  Men's 62% organic cotton / 38% linen jeans, €154.

• Cargus

  Men's 62% organic cotton / 38% linen jeans, €154.

• Condate

  Women's 100% linen jeans in blue, black and natural, €180.

• Lugdunum

  Men's 100% linen jeans, €180.

• Darius

  Men's 98% organic cotton / 2% elastane jeans, €134.

1. 1Le Gaulois Jeans - Jeans français en lin et chanvre de Normandielegauloisjeans.com
2. 2Histoirelegauloisjeans.com
3. 3Tarba - Jeans femme en coton bio et lin, coupe droite, fabriqué en Francelegauloisjeans.com
4. 4Avenia - Jeans femme 100% coton bio, coupe droite, fabriqué en Francelegauloisjeans.com
5. 5Le Gaulois Jeanswikidata.org