Archive fashion has become one of the most discussed – and perhaps most misunderstood – expressions in contemporary fashion. Somewhere between social media obsession, endless references to the past and the acceleration of the resale market, the word “archive” has almost lost its original meaning.
Yet inside DolceVitaHub, archive is not treated as nostalgia, but as a living language: a dialogue between what has been, what exists today and what is still waiting to be discovered.
Founded by Charles Passaga and Sacha Than Trong, and developed alongside key figure Ivan Poudret, DolceVitaHub has grown from a personal passion for exceptional garments into one of Paris’ most distinctive destinations for fashion collectors, creatives and curious minds. Their approach goes beyond rarity and price: it is about emotion, storytelling and the power of a piece to create a connection between people and fashion.
In this conversation with Charles and Ivan, the two reveal their vision of a new generation of archive culture: one that does not look backwards, but uses the past as a tool to understand creativity, redefine luxury and imagine the future of fashion.
Everyone is talking about archive fashion, but somewhere between obsession and oversaturation, the word has almost lost its meaning. What does “archive” actually mean to you today?
Charles Passaga:
I completely agree that the word “archive” has become oversaturated. Today, it has almost become a marketing argument: everyone wants to say that their selection is based on archive fashion. But what does it really mean?
For me, archive refers to garments created in the past, usually pieces from collections produced at least fifteen years ago. It is also strongly connected to specific designers and creative movements. When people talk about archive fashion, they often refer to designers such as Dolce & Gabbana, Gucci, Raf Simons, Helmut Lang, Maison Margiela and many other influential names, especially from the Belgian fashion scene.
However, archive does not necessarily mean expensive. This is something that is often misunderstood. Of course, some rare pieces can reach very high prices because of their history, rarity or cultural value, but an archive piece can also be an $80 T-shirt from a meaningful collection. What matters is the story behind the garment, not only the price.
DolceVitaHub doesn’t feel like a traditional vintage store, it feels more like a curated universe. Was your goal always to build a community before building a business?
Actually, building a community was never the first objective. The initial goal was simply to share the things we love because we truly believe in our own vision and our own taste.
We never wanted to create a brand by forcing people to follow us. Instead, we wanted to present strong projects, incredible garments and designers that genuinely inspire us. Then, naturally, people started connecting with our vision, and the community grew around that.
Of course, we believe it was possible because we have a very specific perspective. You can find the same archive piece on another platform, but maybe when it appears on DolceVitaHub, it gains a different meaning because people immediately understand our approach to fashion.
We are not focused on one single aesthetic. We want to create a place where different generations, styles and personalities can find something that speaks to them. That diversity is part of what DolceVitaHub represents.
You belong to a generation that did not experience the golden years of many of the designers you sell, yet you seem deeply connected to them. Do you think nostalgia can exist for a time you never lived?
Charles Passaga:
I actually don’t think it is about nostalgia. Nostalgia means missing something that belonged to your own past, something you experienced and lost. For us, it is something different.
We don’t feel that we are missing a time we never lived. Instead, we are inspired by what happened before us. We look at the past to understand what designers created, what ideas they explored and why certain pieces became important.
But the vision of DolceVitaHub is not to remain stuck in the past. Fashion is alive. It is essential to look at what designers are creating today, because if people stop supporting contemporary creativity, there will be no archives to discover in thirty years.
The past is important, but it only has meaning if it connects with the present and the future.
In an era where trends disappear as quickly as they are born, collecting archive pieces almost feels like an act of resistance. Is buying less – but buying better – the new luxury?
We think the new definition of luxury is actually having freedom and possibilities.
Today, people can buy from many different marketplaces, but often they don’t know exactly what they will receive: the condition, the authenticity, whether the size is right or whether the piece truly matches their expectations.
What we want to create with DolceVitaHub is a complete experience where people have access to different possibilities, but with trust and curation behind every piece.
That is the difference between us and a traditional marketplace. We don’t want to simply connect buyers and sellers. We want to create a fashion environment where every piece has been selected, understood and presented with a point of view.
For us, luxury means freedom: the freedom to discover, choose and experience fashion differently.
If Dolce Vita Hub had to be represented by one single piece from your archive – not because it is the most expensive, but because it perfectly captures your philosophy – which piece would it be and why?
Charles Passaga:
I would choose the Maison Martin Margiela Artisanal handbag strap jacket.
Why this piece? Honestly, it is not necessarily my favourite piece in the archive, but it represents everything we love about fashion. It immediately creates a reaction. When people see it, they either love it or they completely reject it, but they feel something.
And that is exactly what we want. We want people to experience emotions when they enter our store.
Some people will see this jacket and be fascinated by the creativity behind it. Others might think it is impossible to wear. But this is what makes fashion beautiful: it can challenge you.
You can be someone who normally wears a simple T-shirt and minimal clothes, but still be deeply moved when you see an extraordinary piece.
Sometimes one crazy piece is enough to completely transform the way you look at your wardrobe.
You have just opened your new space on Rue de Turbigo. Beyond fashion, what do you want people to remember after walking out the door?
Beyond fashion, we want to create a different kind of experience.
We sell pieces that can sometimes be very expensive, but we never want people to feel intimidated. We want customers to feel close to us. We speak with people naturally, we ask questions, we want to understand who they are, what they do and what they are looking for.
Even when very famous people come into the store, we treat them exactly the same way as anyone else. Sometimes they appreciate that we don’t approach them differently or create unnecessary distance.
For us, fashion should be exciting, but the human experience should remain simple.
What I dislike about fashion is when a space makes you feel uncomfortable, when you immediately feel judged or observed. We want DolceVitaHub to feel welcoming: a simple human atmosphere inside a very special fashion environment.
Who is your ideal customer? Who is the person who enters your store most often in terms of age, personality and style?
Ivan Poudret:
Actually, we don’t have one specific customer, and that is something we really value.
If we focused on one typical profile, we would probably attract only similar people. But that is exactly what we don’t want.
Thanks to the diversity of our selection, someone can discover something they love today and something completely different six months later. Fashion changes, tastes evolve, and we want to reflect that.
We have slim silhouettes, oversized pieces, minimalist garments and more experimental designs. It is not about one type of person.
That is what makes DolceVitaHub democratic. You can have someone entering with €80 and someone else looking for a €15,000 piece, and both can find something meaningful.
Charles Passaga:
That is also something I love about chess. When you play chess, your age, your background or your social status disappear. A ten-year-old child and a sixty-year-old person can sit across from each other and share the same experience.
I think fashion can work in the same way. In the same space, you can have completely different people connected by curiosity and passion.
Finally, imagine writing a short letter to your future selves, ten years from now. What would you hope you have never changed, and what would you hope has completely transformed?
What we truly want to achieve with DolceVitaHub is to create a unique life experience, not only for ourselves but also for our team.
We want people working with us to never feel that every day is the same. We want them to constantly discover new things, meet new people and experience unexpected moments.
One of the most beautiful things about this project is the people we meet. Every day brings new stories, and those stories become memories that stay with us.
In ten or thirty years, the most important thing is not only what we built as a company, but the experiences we collected along the way.
We have just opened a new store, but we are already thinking about what comes next. Maybe one day it will be the United States, maybe something completely different. We don’t want to limit ourselves with a fixed plan.
The most important thing is to always remain curious, to keep listening for new opportunities and to never stop evolving.
That is the DolceVita mindset.
Photography: Frédéric Throehler