A day in the life of Yann-Gael Cobigo

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Yann-Gael Cobigo is French. He lives in London, is an Art Director at Havas London, and is one of our loyal customers. He kindly welcomed us in his flat in Hackney on a Saturday afternoon so we could pick his brain on plants, how he keeps busy, and - you guessed it - his beard.

Hi Yann-Gael, how are you?

Hi, welcome. I’m fine, thank you, and you?

Very well, thanks. Let’s get straight to it: how long have you been living in London?

I moved here three and a half years ago when I was offered a very good job opening. I’d been working as a freelancer in Paris for a year prior to that. I got the opportunity to do some freelance work for a British agency, and three months in my copywriter and I got an offer for a permanent position. We felt it was definitely worth a shot, and moved to London to work at VCCP. After a year and a half, I needed a change and ended up at Havas.

Were you already familiar with the city?

Kind of, yes. I’d come for weekends or day trips. I was mostly familiar with the touristic areas such as Carnaby Street. When I was looking into moving here, a friend recommended Hackney, which is where I found my flat.

You are one of our loyal customers, how did you come across Horace?

I’ve known Marc, Horace’s co-founder, for quite some time now. We met through Sneakers.fr back when we were both sneakerheads - I’m not much of a mass sneaker consumer anymore. When he launched Horace I was a bit frustrated because they didn’t deliver to the UK, and a friend - Sébastien de Turenne - was kind enough to bring some products with him when he’d come to visit. They’ve opened their international deliveries now, which is obviously much more practical. The site is nice and easy to browse through, the selection they offer is good, and the guides are very pleasant to read. I really enjoy buying my products off Horace and supporting such a great project.

What are your favourite products?

The entire range of Hommer products were a revelation. I’d never even heard of them, and Hommer has become my go-to brand when it comes to beard grooming. Speaking of which, I’m currently waiting for my restock delivery. I was already familiar with most of the other brands on the Horace website but I don’t think I would have ever tried their products before browsing the site. I’ve also tried the Horace face cleanser and moisturiser. They’re really cool. It’s super exciting that they’ve managed to develop their own line of products.

Since when have you had a beard?

All depends on what you call a beard. Is three-day growth considered a beard?

I’ll allow it.

Right. Well I haven’t completely shaved my beard for at least 15 years. I’ve had a really long beard for 7 or 8 years with seasonal variations - shorter in the summer and longer in the winter. About 7 years ago, I let it grow out to extreme proportions when I was still in Paris, and let’s just say it didn’t sit well with everybody. Back then beards hadn’t yet reached peak popularity, and I still had a shaved head. I’d get side-eyes in public transportation and I was regularly stopped by the cops. To be entirely honest it started out as a bet with a friend - no shaving whatsoever. We kept it up for six months, but it was a nightmare for me.

What are your beard grooming habits?

I’m lucky enough to have a beard that doesn’t require much care, so I don’t do that much grooming. As I didn’t really pay attention to products, I’ve only recently gotten into proper beard grooming. I think growing older also prompted me to take better care of my beard. I get it cut and thoroughly shampooed once a month at The General’s Barber Shop. They’re super nice and they do all their trimming with scissors. They know what they’re doing.

Do you think you’ll shave it off for good one day?

No, it scares me to death (laughs)! I can’t even remember what I look like without a beard. I’m pretty sure it will feel like I’ve lost 10 kilos, and every time I think about it I get cold sweats. So, for the time being, I’m keeping it. And it’s a bit of a family heirloom too, as my dad used to have a beard when he was younger. It just feels natural to me. On the other hand, my mum absolutely hates it when I grow it out… She says it makes me look like a reprobate.

Walk us through your morning routine.

At this point I’d like to state that I’m a very slow starter. I always need some time, but when I do end up getting out of bed, I head straight to the shower. I use Dr. Bronner’s organic peppermint liquid soap and the Horace face cleanser. Then I moisturise with the Horace cream, which I find pretty amazing. I style my hair with some Sachajuan Hair Wax and that’s it for grooming.

How much time do you spend in the bathroom?

Between 30 and 45 minutes.

After which you have your breakfast.

Exactly. My current breakfast consists of a bowl of Weetabix with some milk and coconut yogurt, followed by a kiwi, a banana, some orange juice, some fruit compote, and an oatmeal and whey shaker. Sometimes I’ll replace the Weetabix with oatmeal, coconut oil and berries, or wholemeal bread with peanut butter. I only ever change the main component; the rest is always the same. I’ll admit I’m a creature of habit when it comes to my breakfast.

If I’m not mistaken, what you described is a high-protein breakfast for athletes.

Indeed. I’ve always been into sports, ever since I was a little kid. When I first started working, I would go to the gym simply because their 24/7 opening hours enabled me to fit sessions in whenever my work load would allow it. I started doing jiu-jitsu a few months ago at FightZone London, under coach Marco Canha. I try to go two to three times a week for a total of three or four and half hours’ training a week. I go to the gym twice a week to do some general maintenance.

Why jiu-jitsu?

I started to get the itch by watching boxing and UFC fights. I’d already done some boxing in the past and wanted to try something new. I also wanted to do something that would give me a proper work out without the entire weight-lifting routine. I wanted to learn something new. Also, who wouldn’t want to know how to strangle people in 50 different ways? (laughs)

I couldn’t help but notice you have plants all over your flat? Do you spend as much time gardening as you do working out?

Not at all. Truth be told, I’ve already achieved the incredible feat of killing a cactus. Repeatedly. My fiancée takes care of all the plants. I like them a lot but my responsibility is limited to finding names for each of them. They’re all named after fighters. For example one of them is called Mike (Tyson), others are called Rhonda (Rousey), Nate (Diaz), Connor (McGregor), Manny (Pacquiao), and the palm tree is Ali after Muhammad Ali.

You mentioned you used to be a sneakerhead. How many pairs do you still own?

It’s a bit of a touchy subject. I’m going to slightly alter the truth so I don’t get once more prompted to sell part of my collection by my significant other. In London, I’d guess between 80 and 90. In France I still have some pairs stockpiled in my sister’s garage. In total I’d say approximately 150 pairs.

And you’ve worn each and every one of them?

Each and every one of them, except for the older models. I recently blew the sole on a pair of original 1998 TNs which I’d been wearing for a long time. No more outings for that pair. So yes, I do wear them all. This is also partly due to my sub-standard reselling skills. While I do have some pairs I haven’t worn in a year, I just never manage to get rid of them.

Do you still regularly buy new sneakers?

Not as much these days as I find the designs far less interesting than they used to be.

Or you a Nike or an Adidas man?

Mostly Nike. Jordans were my gateway drug. But I try to keep an open mind; it really depends on the models. For example, Adidas’ NMD and Ultra Boost are hands down the best releases in 2016. I bought a couple of pairs, and it was really more about the model in itself than the brand. One thing I’ve never done though is spend more than £200 on a pair of sneakers. I’d much rather invest in a timeless pair of £300 Common Projects rather than a pair I missed out on which has reached ridiculous prices due to resale.

What about your favourite clothing brands?

I really like Norse Projects. Very simple cuts and good fabrics. I also wear a lot of Homecore Paris - a French brand I wore when I was a teenager but which has since immensely evolved. Back then it was a streetwear brand for aspiring rappers with in-your-face logos, but the brand has grown with its target audience. Their clothes are made in Portugal, and you can feel particular attention has been paid to the materials used. I never shop at H&M or other “fast fashion” outlets. I’d rather buy clothes that will still be wearable and in style in two years’ time. APC and Ralph Lauren are two other of my wardrobe mainstays.

Last one before I leave, where did you get your rings from?

Both rings were handmade by a friend who is a jeweller in Paris. His name is Samuel Huguenin, he’s super talented, and he’s worked for various luxury jewellery houses. I first met him seven years ago when he did my first ring. All his jewellery is custom-made to individual order.

Right, I have everything I need, thanks for taking the time to speak to us!

Thank you and bye.

Photos : Justin M. Gong

Interview : Pierre-Alexandre M'Pele