Acne Paper’s New York Story
ABOVE: ALEXA CHUNG AT THE FOUR SEASONS RESTAURANT IN NEW YORK FOR THE LAUNCH OF ACNE PAPER‘S MANHATTAN ISSUE. PHOTO COURTESY OF PATRICK MCMULLAN.
The position of a New Yorker is a singular and particular thing—not content to operate at a level less than frenetic, the quintessential New Yorker is in possession of sharp wits, innate know-how, and an unshakable drive for progress and success.
The same could be said for Swedish creative collective Acne. In addition to managing an advertising agency, a film production company, and creating a fiendishly popular ready-to-wear collection, denim, furniture, and children’s toys, the multifaceted fashion brand has its hand in the publishing world as well, with ACNE PAPER. Issued biannually, the large-format publication is free of advertising and devoted to one theme each issue.
Last night, ACNE PAPER celebrated the launch of their Manhattan issue at the restaurant at The Four Seasons. Guests gathered at the Mies van der Rohe and Phillip Johnson-designed space to preview the issue, serenaded by a five-piece band playing jazz standards (and, intermittently, the Sex and the City theme). With Moët et Chandon in abundance, beef carpaccio hors d’oeuvres, and delicately spun cotton candy making the rounds, the party quickly became a packed hub of gossip and conversation, with guests including Clémence Poésy, Alexa Chung, Sofia Coppola, Hanne Gaby Odiele, and Simon Doonan.
Braving the melee of revelers, Interview caught up with designer Olivier Theyskens. “I love this place, here, the Mies van der Rohe building. I love the veneer, I love the exquisite architecture,” Theyskens mused. On growing up in Belgium, Theyskens said, “I was really imagining how amazing New York had to be. I had these pictures of beautiful buildings of New York, and I love to draw skyscrapers.”
The issue itself is a thoughtful and romantic ode to Manhattan. Covered by members of the New York intelligentsia—Fran Lebowitz, Richard Serra, and Mikhail Baryshnikov—the issue meditates on the city’s modus operandi, from its Lenape past to the linguistic roots of New York “tawk” to cultural institutions such as The New Yorker and The New York Review of Books. Brigitte Lacombe photographed a series of portraits of influential New Yorkers as diverse as Martin Scorsese, Agnes Gund, Jeff Koons, Lena Dunham, Paula Cooper, and Graydon Carter.
Other features include peeks into apartment interiors in various neighborhoods, a tribute to the Chelsea Hotel, pieces of writing from the likes of Dorothy Parker, Washington Irving, Allen Ginsberg, and Truman Capote, and an archival collection of Stephen Meisel’s New York work.
For more photos from the event, click here.
