The Archive

Every time I walk into the Archive I feel like I’m entering an art gallery. Every designer they carry is a true artist. I love that you can feel how excited they are at the archive about the clothing they carry. And they treat you really well and have always made me feel very welcome.

Great men’s boutique with thoughtful brands and wonderful service from Arthur, the owner.

IMHO best men’s store in San Francisco. Only place that carries men’s avant-​garde and Stylezeitgeist approved collections like Boris Bidjan Saberi, Julius, A1923, Guidi etc. I have purchased items online and in-​person, their service is spot on. The sale associates/​owners are helpful, know their stuff and aren’t stuck up (like the typical SAs at department stores).
Only thing is I wished they carried Carol Christian Poell.

THIS IS THE GREATEST STORE IN THE ENTIRE BAY AREA! Better than Barney’s. I only wish I discovered it sooner my whole life would have been better. If people say it’s too expensive then they are poor and should probably go to ROSS or something. When I die bury me in the ARCHIVE store.

Unique, exquisite workmanship, minimal, industrial, expensive. My favorite clothing store anywhere. Its pricey, but you get what you pay for. And not only are the clothes amazing (an otherwise overused word that does apply here) but the service is attitude-​free and very knowledgeable, and never pushy.

There is no such thing as a 3-​star rating for the Archive. It will either be 1 or 5. You either love the curated selection or you hate it. Either way you still have to appreciate the buying staff’s vision. Even if the avant garde selection is not for you, this is the type of smaller sole proprietor business you root for and want to support.
The pieces in here are artisanal, unique, stark, and minimalist. Yes the prices are VERY high but you do not walk in here looking to buy stuff that is widely available at major department stores. There is no other way to describe the clothes here other than to say that it is the anti-​Brooks Brothers for guys who still want to appear well-​dressed.
Some of the stuff is probably not appropriate for work, especially if you are employed in a more «corporate» or client-​facing setting, but I can see it working for environments that have a more creatively oriented staff.
The guys who run the store are very friendly and knowledgeable about the designers on offer. I have only seen one other store in the US that had a similarly curated selection (in NYC) so kudos to the guys for putting this together. I look forward to going back.

Archive always has great collections and is the only place for this type of style in the bay. Downtown sf has only recently started stocking men’s but archive has a much larger variety. The prices are comparable to other stores that sell similar labels and selection is on par. If you like Dark Avant Garde and/​or distressed clothing this is the place. Definitely worth a look around if you are in the area. I have never seen Rick Owens or CCP in the store, maybe they used to have RO but no one carries CCP in the bay. Although there is plenty of incarnation, Julius, ma+, a1923 guidi and many others.
Place is quiet and the workers/​owners generally let you browse and not bug you. However, even though it seems quiet like the library or an archive, the owners are friendly and willing to chat or assist you with your purchases.

the only one of its kind in the entire bay area for avant-​garde men’s fashion. For the people who gave this place two stars or less, its because you don’t belong in here and you don’t get it. Realize your 1 – 2 stars wont make a difference because the star rating of this place won’t encourage or discourage people to buy here. you either have the money to spend or you don’t. This store is not intended for the masses.

Hubby doesn’t like to shop. It’s really hard to get him to a men’s store because he knows the focus would be on him.
Luckily, he was at least up for it when I suggested checking out Archive. He does his usual browsing and as always, not finding anything. I came upon this cool jacket and asked him to try it on. He was reluctant but I insisted… well, he was hooked because the jacket fitted him perfectly!
Kode9 — light and very stylish. Hubby has had so many compliments on the jacket, he sports it regularly and proudly!

HAIKU REVIEW:
Apocalyptic
Ash white, sullen black, soot grey:
Hues of best-​dressed man.
The Viridi-​Anne,
Label Under Construction,
Werkstatt Munchen (fave!)
Rare designers from
Norway and Los Angeles,
Germany, Japan.
If you’re goth-​and-​roll,
If you deserve a runway,
Find your treasures here.
Sharp sartorial.
Hipsters beware: you’ll need coin.
Hit their killer sales.

Okay… so here goes! This place would have received 5 stars because it has the BEST selection (meaning hard to find designers) of mens clothes that you can not find ANYWHERE else in the BAY area (if you can afford it)! But honestly… I’ve only been in there once and the guy who was working (whom I assume was the owner) was a plain ol ass! very unfriendly as I perused and asked questions and since I work retail and have worked in the fashion industry for the past 5 years I usually love it when people are friendly and interested in the place Im working in… but this guy was so off putting that all I could do was laugh it off.
Im sure he is much friendlier to people he might think are going to purchase something but honestly… I looked the part so maybe he just didnt like my dreads or something… I dont know what was going on but I’ve never been in since and even though I refer guys to the store for certain designers/​styles Im not sure I should because of him. maybe one day I will venture back in.

They have amazing things at this store, but it’s out of my tax bracket.

«Working out is modern couture. No outfit is going to make you look or feel as good as having a fit body. Buy less clothing and go to the gym instead.” – Rick Owens
The Archive makes me want to pump iron, and I don’t even like the idea of lifting weights.
I have very little occasion to dress up in the clothes they sell here, but it’s a fun place to try things on. They stock a good number of items in small sizes, too.

I challenge you to find me something here that is not black, dark gray, or brown. Makes me feel like this place takes itself too seriously. I think it was also because when I walked in, there were like ten guys standing around dressed the same as each other (also in black, dark gray, or brown) with an attitude that was boringly stereotypical. It’s a clothing store. Where is the sense of humor?
Their Kicking Mules were on sale though, can’t say I’ve ever seen that anywhere else.

Having lived in the East Bay for a long time, The Archive was always sort of a golden oasis; a shining exemplar of discretion and simplicity in a city so consumed by consumerism that good stores are often left on the wayside in favor of something bigger, something brighter, and something (usually) of much more marginal quality. But now that I live in the city, I truly understand how ridiculously lucky San Francisco is to have a place like this.
If you don’t like spending money on your clothes (and I’m not talking about inflated prices like what you’ll find at Abercrombie or Reiss), then you should take any super positive review with a grain of salt. Unlike restaurants or nightclubs, it’s much harder to set an objective standard for cost-​to-​value for what you wear. The people who come here and the people who work here don’t necessarily want to buy expensive clothing; it’s just that they’ve come to realize that the clothing that they want can only be made by certain people and can only be purchased at certain price points.
David and Arthur are, by far, two of the most knowledgeable people about fashion in the entire Bay Area. Between the two of them, they know enough about history, construction, and just plain old taste that if people gave them a chance, they could probably save all of the city from its grunge-​y, self-​destructive habits. People who complain about the service here just don’t understand that the usual clientele don’t require someone fawning over them every single second. If you want to see how good the folks at The Archive can treat you, try engaging them in a genuine conversation about clothing: how things fit, how things are fabricated, who makes them, what fabrics are used, where are they sourced? Unlike pushy sales people are other stores, they actually know and love every single one of their products and are more concerned with you getting what you want than them getting a sale.
I felt compelled to write a review since their recent buys have been absolutely stellar: the first pieces from Rick Owens, Label Under Construction, Devoa, Nice Collective, and N. Hoolywood have just arrived. If you’re in the market for a suit, I would heartily recommend trying on the N. Hoolywood tropical-​weight wool, two-​button suit. The incredible eye for detail that these guys have shows in that selection alone.
Men of San Francisco, I beg you to come and to tap into your true fashion potential.

Yes, this place is a little pricey, but you are paying for a piece of art. Next time you are looking at Helmut Lang, Prada, or Hugo Boss, check the tag and see where it is from. 90% of it is made in China, Mexico, or Vietnam. You are paying for a label name… not quality. Now take that same $$$ and head to The Archive. Their labels aren’t just clothes makers, they are artisans. Most pieces are made in Japan, Italy, and the USA. Disregard the negative reviews… if they were a connoisseur of clothing, then they would realize that The Archive is doing a service for San Francisco. They are the only place that carries my beloved Attachment, Julius, and V: Room.
When you are ready to move beyond Varvatos, Helmut Lang, Burberry, etc, then step it up at The Archive. Arthur and David are good guys. Arthur is always patient with me because I will try to negotiate a better price (I work in sales and my work traits carry over to day to day stuff). Sometimes Arthur works with me… sometimes not, but all in all, he is fair.
To the people who complain about $ 200 T-​shirts and the high prices… OK, sure, you have every right to think that $ 200 is too much, but don’t rate them low stars because of that. I love going into the Lamborghini Dealership and admire the lines of the cars, but I’m not going to give the dealership 1-​star because the car’s price starts at $ 275,000. The car is handmade using the top of line materials which is why it is 10x pricier than my car. Just like that $ 200 t-​shirt was designed by a master and crafted by artisans using the best materials. I agree that may be pricey, but if that is the case, don’t buy it. It’s not your thing… more power to you. Shove out and I will come in and buy it… hopefully for $ 140 though.

You must be thin, you must be hip, and you must be willing to empty your wallet to shop at this quietly elegant boutique for men. Urban chic is the style… man purses, computer cases, belts with cast metal buckles…
If just the thought of owning a rumpled body fitting jacket and matching cargo pants that none of your friends has ever seen thrills you, despite the $ 1,000 price tag, this is a place you’ll love. This is the way to stay ahead of the curve and sculpt a personal fashion statement.
Cutting edge slacks, jackets, shirts and sweaters from Japanese and Italian designers appear and disappear along the shop walls as local fashionistas trade a swipe of plastic for «the look.»
I spent a lot of time staring at the translucent paneling which makes this narrow shop appear larger than it is. What a calming effect it appeared to have on both customers and staff. It was an easy place to ask for things and be helped. If you’re the kind of man who cares about his appearance, but prefers to make a subtle statement… this little gem will soon become a favorite source.

G-​star we have to talk. Now I know we’ve been together for a couple years, but I’m starting to think this isn’t working out. At first we were so great, we’d go out to the bars, hit the clubs, people would always be curious about us. But now, well… there is no easy way to say this but, you’ve really let yourself go. No please stop crying, there is nothing more to say really, well except… I’m seeing someone else, actually a few others. Yes that does make this all the more awkward, I should have told you earlier… I’m sorry.
Do the names really matter? I mean it’s not going to make this any better. Fine, FINE I will tell you… Transit, L.G.B., and Nice Collective to name a few. Yes they are more «expensive», but they are always ready to go out which is more than I can say about you lately.
So I’ve said my piece and I bid you adieu, it’s the end of a memorable chapter in our lives. We will always have those good times, remember ’04 and ’05? But that is in my past now, I must follow my heart and leave you for my new fashion friends.
Ciao.
PS I’ve already been back, Arthur and David you guys are great!

You are not going to find clothing and accessories like this anywhere else in San Francisco, or at least it’ll be a challenge. Every item they carry has a modern elegance to it, there’s a little bit of Paris, Tokyo and Antwerp all rolled into one.
The Archive is about brands like Bagutta, Costume National, Masatomo, all hand selected with some serious fashion TLC by the three owners (I met Arthur last night, a gracious host in his own right).
Discriminating and smart customers take note: sign up for their mailing list to be kept up on sales and when new inventory arrives.

Men’s fashion leaders, David Becker and Arthur Louie have assembled a fantastic men’s apparel boutique here. There is a reason for investing in quality men’s clothing vs. picking up something from the Gap or Old Navy. Here are some:
superior fit, quality fabrics, artisan workmanship, keen style, personalized service, pleasant shopping experience.
the Archive personifies all of the above.
and you don’t have to be a metrosexual to shop here!