Ström Paris
French tailoring house, circa 1850–1920
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Ström Paris (originally O. Ström & Fils) was a French tailoring house active in Paris from 1848 through the early 20th century. The firm specialized in bespoke garments for men and women, with a focus on luxury sportswear for motoring, aviation, and outdoor sports.[1]
The Ström boutique at 16 Rue de la Chaussée-d'Antin, Paris (1911) | |
| Industry | Couture, clothing and accessories for sports |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1848 |
| Founder | Olé Olsen Ström |
| Headquarters | Paris , France |
History
Established in 1848 by Norwegian-born Olé Olsen Ström (1827–1904), the house initially focused on high society tailoring in Paris.[2] By the late 19th century, the business operated as O. Ström & Fils and held royal warrants for the monarchs of Sweden, Norway, and Belgium.[2] The house maintained salons at 16, Rue de la Chaussée-d’Antin and later moved to the Rue Royale.[3]
In 1893, Ström's sons, Gustave Adolphe and Charles Alfred, joined the business. The Ström family was deeply integrated into the early European motorsport circuit; Gustave Ström married the sister of the racing driver Alfred Velghe (known as "Levegh").[3] The House won numerous awards in international exhibitions, including a Silver Medal at the 1900 Exposition Universelle in Paris and a Gold Medal at the 1904 Louisiana Purchase Exposition in St. Louis.[4] To document their collections, the House collaborated with notable artists; artists George de Feure and Nils Forsberg Junior were commissioned to design sales catalogues, and the illustrator O'Galop produced illustrations featuring Charles Ström wearing Ström patented inventions.
Sporting attire and patents
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Ström was an early inventor of specialized clothing for motorists and aviators, supplying the Automobile Club de France, the Paris Yacht Club, and the Aéro-Club de France.[5] To address the conditions of open-top travel, the firm filed several patents with the National Institute of Industrial Property (INPI):
- Couverture-pantalon (blanket-trousers, 1899): A wool or fur covering designed to be used as a blanket that could be fastened around the legs for protection while driving.[6]
- Parapluie du chauffeur (Chauffeur's umbrella, 1901): A waterproof garment with an elastic rubber collar intended to prevent water ingress at the neck.[7]
Beyond apparel, the house produced safety equipment, such as the "Life-jacket pillow-belt" (Oreiller-Ceinture de Sauvetage), a patented invention with an air chamber, bird-down and a safety valve, designed for use by sailors and early motorists.
The firm's garments were used by early aviators including Louis Blériot and Henri Farman, and by Jean-Baptiste Charcot during French Antarctic expeditions.[8] American racing driver Joe Tracy also utilized Ström equipment; his personal silk racing mask and goggles, used circa 1905, are preserved in the collections of The Henry Ford.[9][10]
Collections and legacy
The firm's historical output and primary documentation are preserved in several international public collections:
- Metropolitan Museum of Art: The museum holds a silk hat (c. 1900) and a bespoke men's waistcoat featuring the house's original labels.[11][12]
- The Henry Ford: The digital archives include primary artifacts from the house's automotive era.[9][10]
- Bibliothèque Forney: A 1906 trade catalogue illustrating garments for motoring, aviation, hunting and winter sports.[13]
Gallery
1910s sales catalogue cover featuring an illustration by George de Feure.
A 1905 invoice for O. Ström & Fils, listing royal warrants for the Kings of Sweden, Norway, and the Belgians.
