Arche

History, arche founders
Pierre-Robert and Andrée Hélaine, arche founders

Arche is internationally famous. Since 1968, the story of a passion that won the world. The passion of one man: M. Pierre HELAINE. ”18 years old, self-taught, curious about everything, I decided to invent and make shoes…”When Pierre Hélaine, founder of Arche, tells about the beginning of his career in the 30′s, you sit down and listen. Or rather, you devour the tale that he left for his children at the dusk of a well-lived life.

Founding the brand Arche was only a new step for Pierre Hélaine, and very successful culmination at that, in his exploration of the world of footwear. A universe where he “felt” the product with passion and instinct. Before the last war, the exuberant inventor invented sandals, wedge heels, clogs and Oxfords with wooden soles. Changing material flaws into qualities, making up for lack of means with ideas, even during the black years of the 40′s, he became the most sought-after shoemaker in Tours for his quality creations. Right after the war, he continued to follow the same demanding ideal and made crepe sole boots. He never gave up his standards for quality and comfort as he created specific products, invented innovating technical solutions, developed high-performance machines and multiplied production capacity. He also managed the Majesté Company that soon launched into making moccasins. Pierre Hélaine’s surprising creations, such as unusual rubber picots that appeared in 1961-1962, led him to market models for the full price range, covering the entire moccasin market in the 50′s and 60′s.

When he and his wife, Andrée Hélaine (who managed the group until 2000), founded Arche in 1968, he already pushed his natural crepe-soled boots and high-top shoes with “Kneipp stitching”. It was an immediate success. The company became even more famous in 1976 when it perfected natural latex soles made with pure hevea milk. The original riding boot and fringed moccasin were soon supplanted by Archette, a draped boot. Arche created specific models for Thierry Mugler, Dorothée Bis, Anastasia and Marithé & François Girbaud, fulfilling the desires of important editors for well-known fashion magazines who continue today to discover and rediscover Archette.

Entirely French made, with 100% natural materials, nubuck leather uppers and hevea latex for the soles, Arche collections attract more than 1 000 independent professional customers, 700 of which are located in 25 countries in the world.

Originally directed by Andrée Hélaine, the company owns 16 shops in France. Arche Inc., a subsidiary, successfully distributes the brand’s products in the USA since 1984. 7 shops in New York and Boston that attract an elite American clientele. Subsidiaries in China, Japan or Canada, as well as agents in the entire world, contribute to Arche’s international fame. “It’s a fabulous job, concludes Andrée Hélaine. As in all sectors, you can’t take anything for granted. That is probably why it is so important to maintain and encourage inter-personal dialogue.” A humanistic, slightly Epicurean philosophy, the perfect fit for Arche shoes.