The Montreal-based twins, Dexter and Byron Peart, were in Los Angeles last night for the opening of their pop-up shop at The Standard, Hollywood. Founded in 2006 out of a "want" for quality goods to house the "essentials" of everyday life, WANT Les Essentiels de la Vie has flourished, their "structured yet relaxed" travel bags and accessories selling in all the best shops in the world (including The Standard, High Line in New York, and online at ShopTheStandard.com.)
STANDARD CULTURE: Welcome to LA! What drew you to The Standard for your pop-up shop?
Brothers Peart: After a very successful launch of the Spring/Summer 2013 collection at The Standard, High Line, we wanted to find new ways to collaborate with The Standard, a brand that is synergetic with ours. The idea of timing our pop-up boutique with the start of summer and launching in the amazing space that the Hollywood location offers was the perfect way to build upon the partnership.
Did you design any of your collection with the West Coast in mind?
Yes, definitely. The idea of spending lazy afternoons by the pool or heading to the beach on holiday provided a huge dose of inspiration. The hues of greens, blues and sandy neutrals pay homage to that.
What are some of your inspirations for this collection?
In addition to the sand and sea elements, we were also driven to use print in a more significant way this season than ever before. Beni Ourain rugs and Asante Kente fabrics inspired us to have fun with bold designs, and as a result, we have statement making patterns and bright pops of color this season.
What makes a perfect bag?
Simplicity, functionality and portability. That said, we firmly believe that function and form go hand in hand, so our silhouettes are always streamlined and classic. The O’Hare tote is, in our opinion, the perfect combination of these ideas. It’s easy to use, extremely versatile, and in our Italian frisée fabric…impossible to ignore!
The O'Hare Tote (All the bags are named after airports)
They say simplicity is the ultimate sophistication. Simplicity can also be, how shall we say, rather demanding. On a scale of 1 to 10, how would you score yourselves on the "Perfectionist" scale.
We pay very close attention detail and hold true to our ideas of sustainable design. We would probably score an 8 on this one.
Someplace you haven't been yet, but are dying to go?
Shanghai is at the top of our list of must-see destinations.
Dieter Rams is a big influence. What do you like about him?
We are very inspired by Dieter Rams’ Ten Principles of Good Design. The idea of creating products with purpose that are sustainable, functional and timeless deeply resonates with us. With that in mind, we aim to strike a balance between traditional style and modern compatibility.
Inspiration: Dieter Rams
Ultimately, we’re most inspired to see designers who create things (buildings, landscapes, interiors or products) that are meant to last a lifetime, not just a season.
Is there an artist/architect whose work you think most identifies with your aesthetic?
Striking architecture, such as Moshe Safdie’s Habitat 67, is also a significant influence. We both live in this iconic building, which overlooks Old Montreal.
Living someplace so special that was designed by an audacious 23-year-old at the time reflects much of what inspires us: Disrupting conventional thinking and creating something simply beautiful that will retain its beauty for years to come.
Home: Moshe Safdie’s Habitat 67 in Montreal
A director whose next film you would love to see your bags in?
We’re huge fans of Chrisopher Nolan, so seeing a WANT bag in his next film would be pretty amazing!
