At 46 Rue de Provence, in the lively heart of Paris’s 9th arrondissement, the façade of Ardentes Clipei offers a quiet invitation. Through the street-facing windows, passersby glimpse tailored garments, soft light and an intimate interior where clients are welcomed with coffee, conversation and time. It feels less like a traditional tailoring shop and more like a place designed for unhurried attention — a luxury at the core of modern tailoring.

This atmosphere reflects the vision of Romain Biette, who founded Ardentes Clipei in 2015 at just 25. What began as a small courtyard workspace has grown, step by step, into the welcoming shop he and his partner Anna Nyberg run today. “We’ve always tried to grow without losing what makes us distinctive,” Biette says. “Our clients are at the centre of everything.”

The name Ardentes Clipei encapsulates the spirit of the house. Latin for shining shields, it reflects Biette’s love of history, chivalry and symbolism. But the metaphor is deeply modern. “Dressing is like putting on armour to face the world,” he tells me. “A shield protects, of course, but a shining one reveals who you are. Clothing should help you express your personality, not conceal it.”

This year marks the 10th anniversary of Ardentes Clipei, and the celebration is characteristically human. Rather than organising a grand marketing gesture, Biette has invited ten long-standing clients to be photographed in their favourite Ardentes Clipei pieces, creating a book dedicated to them. “They are the real ambassadors of our house,” he says. “We would be nowhere without them.”

This closeness is reflected in the growth of the team itself. Biette began on his own, even performing all fittings and alterations, until Anna joined him five years ago. Today, a team of seven works alongside them, cultivating a house style that blends French, Italian and British tailoring codes “with a twist”: Parisian classicism, Milanese discretion and English balance, interpreted with contemporary ease.

“I love history and cinema,” Biette says. “They’re constant sources of inspiration. Parisian menswear sits at the intersection of British and Italian style, but always with a certain restraint, a sense of proportion that makes clothes elegant without excess.”

Ardentes Clipei offers both bespoke garments made in Paris and Made to Measure tailoring crafted in its Italian atelier. This combination reflects Biette’s training and his attachment to beautiful workmanship. At a time when the terms bespoke and made to measure are used loosely, the house embraces clarity and rigour. “Our tailoring and shirting must offer the highest quality and flexibility,” he explains. “It’s a personal process. We guide each client to build a wardrobe that suits their preferences and lasts as long as possible.”

Guiding clients through more than 2,000 shirting fabrics requires instinct, listening and tact. For Biette, everything begins with the cloth. “It’s worn closest to your skin,” he says. “You must really like how it feels, and it has to align with your lifestyle.” Clients can explore hundreds of collar shapes, cuffs, back constructions and stylistic details, ranging from the most classic to the boldly individual. The process is tactile and reflective, built around conversation rather than prescription.

Among the many clothmakers Ardentes Clipei collaborates with, Thomas Mason holds a special place. “The quality speaks for itself,” Biette says. “There is real creativity not only in the seasonal books, but also in the vast permanent collection. And we value working with a family business run with high standards and integrity.” Particular favourites include the Twill bunch, prized for its luxurious feel and formal refinement, and the Leisure bunch, rich with playful stripes and muted classic shades that clients often choose for their timeless appeal.

Ardentes Clipei’s digital presence has grown naturally, shaped by Romain and Anna’s generation. “We grew up with social media,” he says. “It’s the opposite of manual craft, but it’s a great medium to show, educate and share ideas. Made to measure invites creativity, and social media helps clients collect inspirations and build something personal.”

A new website will launch soon, featuring a digital configurator that allows returning clients to reorder from the entire fabric collection, and new clients to begin crafting a personalised shirt from the ready-to-wear sizing. International growth is also on the horizon. “We welcome more and more clients from abroad,” Biette says. “We’re a French brand with a Parisian heart, so why not one day open another shop in Europe or America?”

Ten years on, Ardentes Clipei remains defined by its founding idea: clothing as armour, as expression, as a shining shield for the contemporary world.

To learn more, or to book an appointment, visit ardentesclipei.com

Photo credit: Mike Cornelus