Go inside the new Polène flagship store in Tokyo’s glitzy fashion district, featuring luxury leather bags and jewellery
Tokyo is not short of shopping destinations, but this new addition may tempt even the Princess of Wales to pay a visit. The Paris-based handbag label Polène has unveiled its first flagship store in the Japanese capital city, marking its third store opening in the world.
Located at Omotesando—the glitzy district that’s sometimes referred to as Tokyo’s Champs-Élysée—the new Polène flagship store is a minimalist’s paradise, thanks to French interior designer Valériane Lazard. The tranquil, two-floor penthouse boasts Japanese oak flooring, leather seating and sleek, sculptural furnishings that have been meticulously layered with black Japanese lacquer, also known as urushi.
There are touches of the West as well: the store’s counter is a custom creation by Spanish artist Jorge Penades, while the entrance to the stairs features dark blue glass panels assembled by French glassmaker Emmanuel Barrois to evoke the sea as seen in the works of Japanese photographer Hiroshi Sugimoto.
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Of course, the real attraction of the store is Polène’s elegant offerings. You’ll find the French label’s signature leather bags displayed like artworks along the walls. That includes the Numéro Sept Mini, the structured handbag that Kate Middleton has frequently been spotted with. Up on the second floor, you can also discover handcrafted pieces from Polène’s first jewellery line, which was launched in June this year. There are plenty of gleaming pieces to choose from, such as the the gold-gilded Eroz necklace and the statement Éole cuff.
The store will officially open its doors on September 1. If you won’t be in Tokyo anytime soon, fret not. You can still get the Polène experience at the brand’s two other flagship stores: one in Paris, the other in New York. For now, take a closer look inside the store through the gallery below.
Polène’s Tokyo flagship is located at 5 Chome 3-18 Mina miaoyama Minato City, Tokyo 107-0062.
