Galet, the French luxury loafer brand, launched its Tour de Galet over Memorial Day weekend and has made stops throughout the Hamptons all season long. The vintage orange Citroen truck can currently be seen at the 40th annual Hampton Classic, where it was just named outstanding boutique, edging out more than 70 boutiques to take home top honors.
“The Citroen is very French and very iconic,” shared Jonathan Horemans, one of Galet’s owners. “We’re a French shoe brand, and we do very iconic shoes, so we thought this truck was a great way to represent us here in the United States.”
This marks Galet’s second appearance at the prestigious Horse Show.
To showcase their eye-catching loafer motifs, the brand restored a Citroen truck that dates back to the early ’70s. They choose the vehicle’s vibrant color to pay homage to The Sultan of Swoon. “Frank Sinatra said that ‘orange is the happiest color,’ and so we thought that the orange really represented the fun vibe we’re trying to create,” noted Horemans. “It brings a smile to people’s faces. So we use a lot of orange in our branding.”
Galet customized the mobile retail pop-up store for its summer Hamptons expedition by installing a stereo system, a shelving unit on the right side, and cutting out the upper left side to create a counter and a window that opens to customers. While the Citroen holds approximately 200 pairs of shoes, Galet also has a variety in storage at the Classic. “Our company is based in Paris, and this is our office here in the United States,” joked Horemans. “We try to set up a fun vibe for everybody.”
Equestrian stylist Ashley Cline (and sponsor of the Boutique Contest), along with Mary-Kate Olsen and Ashley Olsen judged the contest. “The judges said that they thought we had created a friendly, fun environment, that it was something different from the other booths,” said Horemans. “We’re a luxury company, but we’re doing it in a fun way-that’s our ethos.”
The Hampton Classic Horse Show is located at 240 Snake Hollow Road in Bridgehampton. For more information, visit www.hamptonclassic.com.