American Apparel, the vertically integrated clothing manufacturer based in downtown Los Angeles, has opened an expanded annex to its most successful store in Paris.

The store, located at Place du Marche St-Honore, was American Apparel's first retail location in France when it opened in January 2005. At the time, Marche St-Honore was a quiet pedestrian street that, while steeped in rich history, was mostly filled with small cafes. As the store and company grew, the area evolved into a fashion destination with a vibrant social scene - it is now the site of a Marc by Marc Jacobs shop and a mainstay for street-style fashion photography.

The new addition - just a few feet from the original store - adds about 1,350 sq ft of space, effectively doubling the company's presence there. It symbolizes how important Paris has become to American Apparel's French operations, with six of the company's eight stores located in the city.

"The morning before construction of the original shop began, a curious neighbor came by to inquire what the space would be. I'll never forget seeing her eyebrows go up with concern when I described our plans to sell blank, American-made t-shirts. She suggested we sell coffee instead. To not only still be here five years later, but to be expanding into additional space is something we're doing with a huge amount of happiness and pride," said Marsha Brady, a creative director for American Apparel.