A Family Story
The story of the mythical concept store Colette began 20 years ago. Colette Rousseaux, the owner of a wholesale fashion boutique, sensed the end of one era and the beginning of a new one. Together with her daughter Sarah, a fresh graduate from the École du Louvre, they created the Concept Store that captivated both Paris and the world. Their idea was simple, summed up in a short phrase: “the selection of what we love.” But to say this and engage the public required both talent and taste.
A Unique Concept Store
The brand with two blue patches opened on March 20, 1997, at 213 Rue Saint-Honoré, just 50 meters from the Relais Saint-Honoré, in one of Paris’s most fashionable streets. Karl Lagerfeld expressed his admiration, saying, “I love this place and Madame Colette, whom I greatly admire. I am devastated; it is so sad.” Mother and daughter succeeded in creating what many large stores can no longer achieve: the subtle blend of fashion, beauty, street-art, design, high tech, music, and literature. They partnered with creators and brands to host events, making Colette a space that is not just about products but about life and community.
Rare Products
- Short series of products
- Permanent renewal of collections
- Weekly updated merchandising
- Launch of new brands, creators, and artists
- Reinterpretation of forgotten products and styles
Store Layout
- 700 square meters across three floors, designed by an architect
- A unique store with a small, beautiful, and rare selection
- No endless aisles; a compact and exclusive shopping experience
Exceptional Service
- 100 employees for 700 square meters of sales space
- Unmatched luxury service
A Farewell to Colette
We must visit Colette before the curtain closes on December 20, 2017. We will remember the two great priestesses of fashion and design, who, despite their success, resisted the marketing temptations that often destroy a brand: multiplying stores, extending hours, crowding products, and eventually selling to a successor who distorts the original concept.
Colette
213 Rue Saint-Honoré
75001 Paris
