Team Club Sandwich, Paris

“Paris is the European Capital of Boredom,” or so says an article published in Le Monde two months ago. Don’t tell that to Marc Zaffuto and Emmanuel d’Orazio, promoters and veterans of the fashion industry who started the monthly Parisian boîte, Club Sandwich, five years ago. They’re having none of it.

Zaffuto and d’Orazio describe themselves as “ex-clubbers” who couldn’t find what they liked in Paris. They started “a little party for friends” every Sunday night at Neo, a small club off the Champs-Elysées.

When 300 people ditched a Louis Vuitton event at the Petit Palais to finish the night at Club Sandwich, clearly something was working. “They were coming to have fun, not to talk business” or network, says Zaffuto.

A glance at any guest list will tell you that Zaffuto and d’Orazio have some interesting friends. Club Sandwich quickly became known for their wild soirées. “What’s important in a party is the mix,” says Zaffuto. “Come naked if you want, in a tuxedo if you want.”

It’s not unusual to see a “queen and a real queen” brushing shoulders at one of their party, jokes Zaffuto. The mingling of the old guard of nightlife aristocracy with a colorful crowd of drag queens and pole dancers is a key to their success.

After they outgrew their small space at Neo, they moved on to La Scala and L’Espace Pierre Cardin. They recently took over Maxim’s, the quintessentially Parisian restaurant on Rue Royale.

Looking quite comfortable amid the red plush banquettes and mahogany interior, d’Orazio talks about the importance of finding a “location with a spirit.” No two parties are the same so leasing a more permanent space is out of the question. “This isn’t the 70’s anymore,” says d’Orazio.

Mention of last year’s “Parfum de Nuit” party at Maxim’s has Zaffuto nearly purring. He recalls the two seemingly identical nude models slinking gracefully through a crowd including the likes of Stefano Pilati, spraying perfume in the air. It was all “very chic,” says Zaffuto.

While speaking with Zaffuto and d’Orazio, it’s hard not to catch a bit of their infectious enthusiasm. “We’re part of the party…we party more than our customers,” they like to say. On special occasions, Zaffuto and d’Orazio will even perform for the crowd. While the routine always changes, they always dress alike, often as flamboyant characters. Needless to say, the crowd eats it up.

With city officials enforcing strict noise and fire code regulations in Paris’ few clubs, it seems many revelers have fled for Berlin or New York. Club Sandwich has even been held in New York a few times at the Norwood club, much to the delight of the fashion crowd. Zaffuto and d’Orazio are also planning a big costume party in New York after fashion week. They haven’t given up on Paris though.

“Paris is a little sleepy” these days, admits d’Orazio after a pause. “Club sandwich is how we see Paris…this is Paris,” he says. “We really believe in Paris…we love our city,” says Zaffuto, leaning forward in his seat to drive the point home. They’re optimistic Paris will regain its place at the top, as it always seems to do.

To celebrate the five year anniversary of Club Sandwich, Zaffuto and d’Orazio are planning a book with Gary Lee Boas, their in-house photographer known best for his raw photos of Studio 54 back in its heyday, and French photographer Mathieu Baumer, who works for Numéro magazine. They want it to be a celebration of their past work, not an epigraph.

The beauty of it is that Club Sandwich is still changing. The book will also treat parties as an art form equal to theater. In fact, Zaffuto and d’Orazio consider themselves artists as much as promoters. They look to have the book ready later this year with a photo exposition planned for the Fall.

While Zaffuto and d’Orazio are looking forward to a “break this season,” don’t count on it. With Fashion Week just days away, anything can happen. Rest assured, it won’t be boring.

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by Trafton Kenney
Photo by Arturo Oliva Pedroza
Gloobbi Lifestyle

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