WANT Les Essentiels

WANT Les Essentiels is an affordable luxury brand of bags, shoes and knits for men and women. Known for the simple aesthetic and functional design of its products, the brand targets frequent flyers, a clientele that requires practical, sturdy accessories.

The signature details of WANT Les Essentiels are discreet, like the two-tone gold and silver zippers that have been a distinctive element of the brand from the start.

WANT Les Essentiels was founded in Montreal by Mark Wiltzer, Jacqueline Gelber, and twin brothers Byron and Dexter Peart in the winter of 2006-2007. The brand initially offered a limited selection of leather goods exclusively for men. As the label’s popularity grew, so did its product line.

In August 2017, Mark Wiltzer and Jacqueline Gelber became the sole owners of the brand when they purchased the shares of the Peart brothers, the designers and public faces of WANT Les Essentiels.

Located in Montreal’s Mile Ex neighbourhood, the head office of WANT Les Essentiels employs a staff of some thirty people. All of its products are designed there before being produced outside the country. Bags are made in China while shoes are produced in Italy and Portugal.

As of 2018, the brand’s products are available internationally via the WANT Les Essentiels Website as well as through a network of retailers that includes Nordstrom, Le Bon Marché, Printemps, Liberty of London, Mr Porter and Matches Fashion. The company also operates six retail stores under the name WANT Apothecary in Montreal, Toronto, Vancouver and New York City.