Abou d'Abi Bazar® has been created in 1996 by Patrick Aboukrat in the Parisian district called "le Marais".
The story of Patrick Aboukrat is closely related to the development of this district. It begins in 1985 when it takes part in the launching of the brand "Autour du Monde". It collaborates in the design of the collections and researches the ideal place for the first shop of the label. He chooses very quickly the rue des Francs-Bourgeois, mainly taken by stores selling second choice fabrics.
In 1992, with his wife Lisa, he carries out an old dream: open a true haberdasher's, authentic, with buttons, ribbons, pieces of passementerie, embroideries wire and other works for ladies. Faithful to their craze for the Marais, Lisa & Patrick Aboukrat establish the haberdasher's to the # 8, rue des Francs-Bourgeois, in a pretty paved yard. Entrée des fournisseurs® is created in march 1993.
The beginning of the 90' S are the years of glory of the mono-concept shops, asepticized, and clones to each other. Patrick Aboukrat already dreams of launching a different place, where women can find a large choice of fashion items. He rethinks up the working of to a multilabels shop with daily reactualization. In august 96, the first shop Abou d'Abi Bazar opens at the #10 of rue des Francs-Bourgeois.
As of the year 2000, the rue des Francs-Bourgeois becomes ripe with the arrival of international brands and labels. Patrick Aboukrat has to project the future of Abou d'Abi Bazar and open a shop in up district of the Marais: he selected to open a new shop at the #125 of rue Vieille du Temple in a ex gallery of design furniture.
The layout of the boutique, ideally located on the 2nd main thoroughfare of the Marais, is original. It occupies the whole ground floor of a building with 3 corners, between the streets Poitou, Debeylleme and Vieille du Temple.
A perfect jewel case to show and mix new brands, new designers or to offer a window to contemporary artists.
Since opening in February 2005, the rue Vieille de Temple Abou d’Abi Bazar store has met with continuous growth from season to season and attracts big fashion names like Isabel Marrant, Vanessa Bruno, Paul & Joe, Les Petites, Tara Jarmon, Shyne and Bon Ton…A winning combination !
The performmance of the rue de Francs Bourgeois store by the end of 2008 exceeded our expectations and a majority of the brands selected by us and sold in our stores have opened up shop in the rue des Francs Bourgeois or close by. Examples include Isabel Marrant, Vanessa Bruno, Les Petites, Maje, Sandro, American Vintage, Bash and Iro. It was then that Patrick Aboukrat decided to leave « his » rue des Francs Bourgeois and set up shop in a quartier where designer clothing and accessories stores are non-existant, the Latin Quarter in the fifth arrondissement at 15 de la rue Soufflot, right between the Pantheon and the Luxembourg Gardens. A new chapter begins !