About the Founder

Isabelle Saubadu is the creative force behind ARCHIVE, a studio rooted in her lifelong commitment to craftsmanship, sustainability, and timeless personal style. With decades of experience across global fashion capitals, she brings a refined, intuitive approach to reworking high-end vintage into thoughtful, modern heirlooms.

A French transplant, Isabelle arrived in Los Angeles by way of Paris and London. Her formative years were shaped by both cities’ rich creative energy—particularly London’s underground scene, where street fashion, house music, and independent magazines helped shape her distinctive visual language. Early modeling work in Paris, including with designer Martin Margiela, introduced her to the expressive potential of conceptual fashion.

After nearly a decade as a stylist in LA—collaborating with recording artists, actors, and fashion campaigns—Isabelle went on to study at Parsons The New School of Design in New York. She later returned to LA and launched her first label, Alms, which gained early recognition from WWD and Gen Art’s New Garde.

She then joined Joe’s Jeans, playing a key role in expanding the brand’s ready-to-wear division and leading the styling of all brand campaigns. Later, as Senior Designer at Frame Denim, she helped shape its women’s collection across multiple categories.

Today, through ARCHIVE, Isabelle brings her experience full circle—curating and reconstructing high-end vintage into elevated, one-of-a-kind garments for private clients. She also offers creative consulting services. Her Venice, California studio operates by appointment only, offering a quiet, intentional space where sustainability, storytelling, and style come together.