FAQs

European Union: no customs duties or additional VAT. The displayed price is the final price.

United States: we ship DDP (Delivered Duty Paid). All customs duties and import taxes are paid by Gauvain Paris. You pay nothing extra at delivery. The checkout price is the final price.

United Kingdom: 20% UK VAT may be collected by customs on orders above £135, plus any applicable duties. Collected by the carrier at delivery.

Switzerland: VAT (8.1%) and clearance fee (typically 15-25 CHF) collected by customs at delivery.

Canada, Australia, rest of the world: customs duties and local taxes may apply at the recipient's expense, depending on the country's thresholds.

The carrier will contact you before delivery to settle any such charges.

Standard shipping is free, with no minimum order, on almost all our destinations: France, European Union, United Kingdom, Switzerland, Norway, United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, South Korea, Hong Kong.

On a small number of destinations (Brazil, Colombia, Cyprus, India, South Africa, Taiwan, Algeria, Morocco, Tunisia, Peru, Saudi Arabia, Philippines, Qatar, Turkey), only express UPS shipping is available, at €12.

An express option (DHL or UPS) is also offered at €9.90 on most European destinations.

Orders are prepared in our workshops within 1 to 3 business days. You will receive your tracking number by email the moment your order ships.

Estimated delivery times from dispatch:

The exact lead time for your order, and the shipping methods available for your country, are shown at checkout.

Business days are Monday to Friday, excluding public holidays. Delivery times may extend during high-demand periods (sales, end of year).

Order tracking: you receive your tracking number by email the moment your order leaves our workshops. The link in that email lets you follow your parcel all the way to your door.

If you have not received a tracking email within 3 business days of your order, write to us at [email protected] or reach us on WhatsApp at +33 4 12 05 85 53.

Changing your shipping address:

• Order not yet shipped: contact us as soon as possible at [email protected] with your order number and the new address. We update before dispatch.
• Order in transit: we can no longer change the address on our side. You can contact the carrier directly via the tracking link to request a redirect if they offer that option.
• PayPal payments: for PayPal security reasons, the address cannot be changed after payment.

You have 30 days from the date of shipment to return or exchange your order.

Conditions:

• The item must be unworn, in new condition, with original tags attached.
• Customised, altered, or repaired items are not eligible.
• Stained, washed, or damaged items are not eligible.

Size exchange: entirely free, return label included. The full process is described in the article "Free size exchange".

Return for refund:

1. Email us at [email protected] with your order number and the reason for the return.
2. We send you a prepaid return label by email.
3. Return the item in its original packaging.
4. Upon receipt and inspection (within 5 business days), we issue the refund to your original payment method. Allow another 5 to 10 business days for funds to appear in your account.

Cancelling a return in progress: possible at any time as long as the item has not been dropped off at the carrier.

We offer free size exchange on all our pieces.

Process:

1. Email us at [email protected] or message us on WhatsApp at +33 4 12 05 85 53 with your order number, the item, and the new size you would like.
2. We send you a prepaid return label by email.
3. Return the original item, unworn and in new condition, with its tags.
4. As soon as we receive your return, we ship the new size.

If your size is out of stock:

• Originale range: restock expected within 1 to 4 weeks depending on the item.
• 1858 range: restock expected within 4 to 8 weeks (made in France production).

In that case, we offer you the choice between waiting with a reservation, or a refund.

Urgent need: if you need the new size quickly (gift, travel), let us know in your message. We can occasionally ship the replacement before receiving the return.

Gauvain Paris marinières use a numeric size system from 0 to 5, faithful to the tradition of French naval clothing.

Women's size chart (in cm)

Men's size chart (in cm)

Unisex convention: the same marinière for men and women

The same garment appears in the men's and women's sections of the site, with a one-step size offset:

• Women S/1 = Men XS/1 (same garment)
• Women M/2 = Men S/2
• Women L/3 = Men M/3
• Women XL/4 = Men L/4
• Women XXL/5 = Men XL/5

Size XS/0 (women) has no men's equivalent: it is the smallest size of the range.

How to take your measurements

Measure directly on the body, without tightening:

• Chest: horizontally at the widest point.
• Waist: at the narrowest point, just above or just below the navel.
• Hips (women): at the widest point.

Measurements may vary by 2 to 3 cm as they are taken by hand.

If you hesitate between two sizes

We recommend going for the size up for a more relaxed fit, true to the traditional marinière spirit. If the size does not fit, exchange is free.

The 1858 Marinière is our range 100% made in France, in Troyes, the historic heart of French textile manufacturing.

It carries the France Terre Textile label, which certifies that at least 75% of the production steps (knitting, sewing, finishing) take place in the Troyes region, with French craftspeople.

The 21 stripes of the 1858 model echo the imperial decree of 27 March 1858, which set the regulation pattern for the French Navy sailors' striped knit: 21 white stripes of 20 mm and 21 blue stripes of 10 mm.

The 1858 cotton is a 100% carded cotton, slightly rougher to the touch but denser and more durable than other weaves. This is the cotton worn by Breton sailors — its structure offers better resistance to wind and humidity.

This is our heritage piece, made to last a lifetime.

We offer two ranges of marinières:

Originale Marinière: the everyday classic. Made in Portugal in a long-standing partner workshop. 100% combed cotton, soft to the touch from the very first wear.

1858 Marinière: the heritage piece. 100% made in Troyes, France, France Terre Textile label. 100% carded cotton, denser and more durable, faithful to the original marinières.

What both ranges share:

• The same unisex cut
• The numeric size convention 0 to 5, with men / women offset
• The same care in construction and finishes

What sets them apart:

The choice between the two is a matter of preference: immediate softness and accessible pricing for the Originale; French craftsmanship and longevity for the 1858.

Our marinières are made to last. A few simple rules preserve the fabric and the stripes:

• Washing: machine wash at 30°C maximum, inside out, with similar colours (navy may bleed slightly during the first washes).
• Detergent: mild, no bleach, no excessive softener.
• Drying: air dry, flat or on a hanger. Avoid the tumble dryer, which can damage the cotton and warp the stripes.
• Ironing: medium heat, inside out. Avoid direct iron contact on the stripes.
• Storage: folded rather than hung, to preserve the collar and shoulders.

1858 specifics: carded cotton densifies slightly with washes, especially the first ones. This is normal and part of the character of the piece — it softens with wear.

Tough stain? Pre-treat with cold water and a little Marseille soap before machine washing.

Accepted payment methods:

• Credit and debit cards: Visa, Mastercard, American Express
• Apple Pay, Google Pay, Shop Pay
• PayPal
• USDC (crypto stablecoin), via Shopify Payments
• Pay in 3 interest-free instalments via Klarna or PayPal: offered at checkout if eligible (depending on market and amount)

Security: all our payments are processed by Shopify Payments and our PCI-DSS certified providers. No payment data is stored on our servers.

Invoicing: an order receipt is sent to you by email after each purchase. For a company invoice (company name, VAT number), contact us at [email protected] with your order number and the details to include.

Currency: your order is invoiced in the currency of your market (€, $, £, CHF, etc.). Currency conversions are calculated automatically at checkout.