Terre d'Ecologie Populaire Is Where Paris' Independent-Charged Crowd Gathers
And we were there to capture these individualistic Parisians on camera.
By FEMALE Staff,
It’s perhaps only in the bohemian enclave of Menilmontant in Paris’ 20th arrondissement – a hub for radical thinkers and political uprisings since the 19th century – that a public garden like the Terre d’Ecologie Populaire (or TEP) can exist in the French capital.
Originally an abandoned lot overgrown with wild flora, it was embraced as a makeshift park by the neighbourhood’s residents who in 2019 protested against and successfully blocked the construction of a government-backed apartment complex meant to go up on site.
READ MORE: The Garden: At The Intersection Of Fashion, Design And Nature
Today, it continues to be a community space with a distinct grassroots spirit complete with free-roaming chickens, a vegetable plot and a kitchen that feeds the homeless. It was thus the location of choice for the Paris-based photographer and long-time FEMALE collaborator Chuck Reyes who – jointly with the up-and-coming stylist Yuan Qian – spent a day out in this green community space to lens a fashion editorial featuring individuals regardless of age, gender or style.
“It’s not the typical manicured park in Paris and attracts the same kind of independence-charged crowd and energy,” he says. “One wouldn’t associate the people who visit TEP with the typical chic Parisian. That to me makes them truly unique.”
Louise, a student, wears Celine by Hedi Slimane suede jacket and viscose crop top (as corset), with Chain BesaceTriomphe calfskin bag, Celine. All clothes and accessories throughout, stylist’s or subject’s own unless otherwise stated
Eyal, a web3 developer, wears a jacquard terry cloth coat and Tag 2.0 metal sunglasses, Balenciaga
Lucie, a student, wears a silk taffeta bomber jacket, cotton poplin blouse, drill cotton bermudas, silk tie, cotton socks with laces, and rubber boots with metal buckles, Dior
Coline, a student, wears a shetland wool cardigan and satin miniskirt with train, Prada
Apoline, an illustrator (pictured here with her pet Afghan hound Thalia), wears a silk dress and gloves, and metal tiara with crystals, Gucci
Maurine (left), a student, wears a laminated merino wool coat with matching detachable collar; and Bleo (right), a student, wears a calf nappa leather coat, wool vest and poplin cotton collar. All Ann Demeulemeester, as.anndemeulemeester.com
Tommy, who works in PR, wears a wool jacket, matching vest and pants, and cotton shirt, Gucci
Quentin, the frontman of electro punk/noise band Modern Men, wears a wool blazer and matching pants, Prada
Anna, an art teacher, wears a technical chiffon dress, sterling silver ear cuff and calfskin boots, Balenciaga
Adam (left), a nine-year-old, wears a leather blouson and cashmere knit top; and Jessim (right), a 10-year-old, wears a cotton hooded anorak jacket and silk polo shirt. All Dior Men
Isa, a student, wears a calfskin bustier dress, Hermes
Photography Chuck Reyes Styling Yuan Qian
This article first appeared in the June 2022 Male Edit issue of FEMALE