After Paris, New York and Tokyo, the French leather goods label Polène opened its first South Korean shop in the Gangnam-gu district of Seoul on June 15. Designed by Korean architectural firm WGNB, the 245-square-metre showcase features curves and minimalism, echoing the collections of the label, which was launched in 2016.

Inside the Korean boutique, Jonghwan Baek, founder of the WGNB studio, has created a play on materials: leather seating, furniture carved from Ginkgo wood by cabinetmaker Jungjoo Im, a ceramic table with a trompe-l’œil effect, etc. These made-to-measure pieces underline Polène’s desire to create unique spaces for each of its boutiques and to pay tribute to local know-how.

The leather goods brand, which wants to offer different experiences in each of its shops, like its Bon Marché boutique in Paris, where a machine makes creative objects from leather scraps, has installed a photobooth on the floor of its Seoul boutique, renamed “Photobloom”, which allows customers to take photos of themselves in a natural landscape.

This year will be a busy year for Polène. Between now and the end of the 2024, the label will open a new Parisian shop at number 2, rond-point des Champs-Elysées. This three-storey outlet will take over from its historic boutique on rue Richelieu, which is experiencing a huge influx of customers.

Polène will also open its first London shop on Regent Street. In early 2025, it will also open its first shop in Hamburg, Germany, its third-largest export market after the United States and Japan. Polène is also expanding rapidly, and this autumn will see the opening of its new head office on rue du Louvre in Paris.

Launched by a trio made up of Antoine, Mathieu and Elsa Mothay, two brothers and a sister, Polène, which does not disclose its turnover, has all its leather goods collections manufactured in Ubrique, Spain. It will be increasing its production capacity there to meet growing demand. Since 2023, the brand has also offered a jewellery line.