Gérard Darel and Merci launch first joint collection for autumn

Gérard Darel and Merci have created their first collection together for autumn.

Gérard Darel, the French womenswear label, has teamed up with Merci, the Paris concept store that sells fashion alongside homeware, books and second-hand finds. The project is a family affair. Arthur Gerbi is chief executive officer of Merci. His brother Laurent Gerbi co-leads Gérard Darel with chief executive officer David Maruani, according to WWD.

They are brothers. They have never run a label together.

The fall collaboration puts Gérard Darel across the different spaces of Merci's flagship on Boulevard Beaumarchais in Paris. Merci has carried Gérard Darel for five years. This is the first time the two brands have designed as a pair.

The capsule, a small limited collection, centres on bags. It includes a micro-version of Gérard Darel's 24H bag, made with Merci. It also reworks Merci's Candide shopping bag and tote, produced in leather and suede for the first time.

The tie goes back more than a decade. The Gerbi family, founders of Gérard Darel, acquired Merci in 2013, as described by Modaes. Arthur Gerbi, the youngest son, took over management of the store in 2016. He has never worked at Gérard Darel and is the only member of his family to work at Merci.

What makes this stand out is how separate the two paths have stayed. One brother built the clothing label. The other ran the shop that stocked it. Now both names sit on the same ticket.

The joint range lands as Gérard Darel looks beyond France. The label plans flagship stores in New York and London and had planned an opening at Dubai Mall in 2026, with expected revenue of EUR 170 million in 2026, as reported by WWD.