Since it was designed in 1979 by agnes b. at her 3 rue du Jour boutique in Paris, the snap cardigan has become a staple in many closets. It's also played muse for an array of renowned photographers. Currently on display at the agnès b. boutiques in New York is Many Photographers and the Snap Cardigan, a tribute to the timeless garment as depicted in 85 images captured since the late 80s.
The project began in 1986, when agnès (who prefers her name lowercase) first asked photographers including Martine Franck, Steve Hiett, Dominique Issermann, Jean-Baptiste Mondino, and Gilles Bensimon to create images for an exhibit at her own Galerie du Jour in Paris. This first run of photographs ranged from a scuba diving model clad in the cardigan to a still-life of the sweater in a grassy field accompanied by an open novel. In 1996, 70 more photographers participated in a similar exhibition at the Centre Pompidou, giving the cardigan another glimpse at gallery life. It should come as no surprise that as these pictures were being taken, the sweater was attaining cult status. Like other agnès b. basics, the snap cardigan is wearable on people of all ages and genders, yet striking enough to catch an artist's eye.
We knew as much when we collaborated with agnès b. on a capsule collection that included snap cardigans for girls and guys. "[When] I saw them at Opening Ceremony I felt all nostalgic," said handbag designer and Paris native OLYMPIA LE TAN this week. "I think I started liking the snap cardigan when I was about 11 years old. I became obsessed with the weird colored ones, ones that had one sleeve in one color and the other sleeve in another color."
"I now again have quite a large pile of them [again]," said Olympia. "When my mum saw me wearing them she pulled out my old ones from god knows where and in a way they still fit!"
Images courtesy of agnès b. | Many Photographers and the Snap Cardigan runs through March 30
agnès b. Uptown
1063 Madison Avenue
New York, NY 10028
MAP
agnès b. Union Square
13 East 16th Street
New York, NY 10003
MAP
agnès b. Soho
50 Howard Street
New York, NY 10013
MAP
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Dominique Issermann, Untitled, 1986
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Max Vadukul, With Caroline and Raymond, 1986![]()
Martine Barrat, Untitled, 1986 ![]()
Jean-Baptiste Mondino, Untitled, 1986![]()
Sue Kwon, Untitled, 1986
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The project began in 1986, when agnès (who prefers her name lowercase) first asked photographers including Martine Franck, Steve Hiett, Dominique Issermann, Jean-Baptiste Mondino, and Gilles Bensimon to create images for an exhibit at her own Galerie du Jour in Paris. This first run of photographs ranged from a scuba diving model clad in the cardigan to a still-life of the sweater in a grassy field accompanied by an open novel. In 1996, 70 more photographers participated in a similar exhibition at the Centre Pompidou, giving the cardigan another glimpse at gallery life. It should come as no surprise that as these pictures were being taken, the sweater was attaining cult status. Like other agnès b. basics, the snap cardigan is wearable on people of all ages and genders, yet striking enough to catch an artist's eye.
We knew as much when we collaborated with agnès b. on a capsule collection that included snap cardigans for girls and guys. "[When] I saw them at Opening Ceremony I felt all nostalgic," said handbag designer and Paris native OLYMPIA LE TAN this week. "I think I started liking the snap cardigan when I was about 11 years old. I became obsessed with the weird colored ones, ones that had one sleeve in one color and the other sleeve in another color."
"I now again have quite a large pile of them [again]," said Olympia. "When my mum saw me wearing them she pulled out my old ones from god knows where and in a way they still fit!"
Images courtesy of agnès b. | Many Photographers and the Snap Cardigan runs through March 30
agnès b. Uptown
1063 Madison Avenue
New York, NY 10028
MAP
agnès b. Union Square
13 East 16th Street
New York, NY 10003
MAP
agnès b. Soho
50 Howard Street
New York, NY 10013
MAP
Dominique Issermann, Untitled, 1986
Max Vadukul, With Caroline and Raymond, 1986
Martine Barrat, Untitled, 1986 
Jean-Baptiste Mondino, Untitled, 1986
Sue Kwon, Untitled, 1986
