The World Needs You

Hauling luxury goods back from Paris went out of style long ago. Even in an era of fast-changing trends, 'vintage' alone keeps receiving steady love.

Paris is also a city that casts new light on the value of old things. Its vintage shops are not mere 'secondhand' stores but something closer to art, steeped in character and story. More than shopping spaces, they are rooms where clothes and accessories, furniture and objects carrying memory and time wait for their next owners.

There is one vintage shop fervently loved by MZ generation Parisiennes. It sits on rue Dupetit-Thouars in the 3rd arrondissement of Paris, a five-minute walk from Temple station: Chez Snow Bunny.

Carrying the sweet French meaning of 'Snow Bunny's house', the shop is recognized as one of the hottest, hippest spaces in Paris today thanks to its sharp curation and trend-savvy selection.

To mark this Paris Fashion Week season, PAP met Victoria, the director and heart of Chez Snow Bunny.

Please introduce yourself.

Hello. I am Victoria, 29 years old.

Chez Snow Bunny is one of the vintage shops most loved by Parisiennes today. We are curious about its historic beginning.

I started in Paris at 23. Maybe 2017? To reach the dream I carried, I took over the space where I had been working weekends as a seller and started Chez Snow Bunny. It was truly small at first. Hmm, looking back now, it feels crazy. (laughs)

Looking closely at Chez Snow Bunny's selection, we found early-2000s vintage pieces by Jean Paul Gaultier, John Galliano, Marc by Marc Jacobs, Miu Miu and Balenciaga that are hard to come by in Korea, along with pieces from NiiHAi, a rising London designer brand with a Y2K mood.

So you started from scratch.

Still, to reach the beautiful dream called fashion that I had carried in my heart, I could do anything.

Then the space where it all began must mean a great deal to you.

I began in that small space, and you know the place where we met earlier? It has been about a year and a half since I moved the shop there. Now both spaces are mine. The space where Chez Snow Bunny began is now an archive warehouse, and I also rent it out for events and pop-ups. There is even a closet sale booked this very weekend. (laughs)

Chez Snow Bunny carries the sweet French meaning of 'Snow Bunny's house'. How did the name come about?

In 2016, my beloved cousins living in London gave it the name.

Your own style as director and founder is striking too. Where do you usually find inspiration?

Actually, I was originally a makeup artist. I still do makeup as a hobby. So my style inspiration mostly comes from the American musicians who defined 2000s style, Gwen Stefani and Fergie.

This cherished space that saw the beginning of Chez Snow Bunny now serves as the atelier and archive warehouse of the Snow Bunny Collection. Among unreleased treasures and rare vintage pieces, the editor felt like peeking into Victoria's own treasure chest.

We are curious about the plans for Victoria and Chez Snow Bunny in 2025.

I want to keep growing Chez Snow Bunny and open a new store as well.

Finally, if you could send a short message to the Divas around the world who love Chez Snow Bunny?

If there is something you want to do, never hesitate. Just begin. Do not be swayed by idle words like "you will never make it." Money always comes back around, and the world needs you!

Editor. KIM LEE YEON