We met with founder and designer Asato Kitamura for his Paris premiere, showcasing his blend of Japanese philosophy and Western fashion.
Healing the past through poetry is at the heart of Asato Kitamura’s philosophy. He founded his brand, Asato, in his Brooklyn atelier, where he draws on his Japanese identity to create pieces based on form and function, whether material or spiritual. He wants you to wear his garments as you would wear a trauma: by reflecting on their role and their healing power. A nod to his grandmother, a kimono maker, and a way to open a new conversation between Western and Japanese fashion. One that he chose to initiate at Premiere Classe.
Our grand theory is to translate negativity into beauty. Almost all of our garments use elements from the kimono, such as the sleeves or the lack of sizing. When there’s no size, it’s no longer just about the garment, but about how to wear it according to who you are. How to turn an absence into a possibility.
When we presented our first collections in New York, many people said that our aesthetic fits the European market better and most orders we received were from Europe. Paris Fashion Week has a great power of attraction when it comes to sales; people tend to purchase some things here and sell them in New York. So it made sense to come try our luck.
I think that the way Paris appreciates fashion is a bit similar to Japan. New York is more about dressing for entertainment, but Paris has a more sophisticated approach that I can relate to. Here I feel that I can communicate with people through fashion. I don’t want to convince them to wear traditional Japanese garments, but to bring that 20% of Japanese essence that will make them look at a garment from a different perspective.
It makes sense because people tend to wear kimonos as layering pieces, which is similar to the approach we have of accessories. We are also looking to expand our jewelry range, so Premiere Classe is a good opportunity for us to learn more from the perspective of buyers.
I liked the glass jewelry made by Keane, another New York-based brand. I’m also very pleased to see that there are many Japanese brands at Premiere Classe, it would be great to work together!
We met with founder and designer Asato Kitamura for his Paris premiere, showcasing his blend of Japanese philosophy and Western fashion.
At Fenda, shapes are crafted by hands, jewels are inspired by cutlery in a Salvador Dali spirit, and Brazilian stones seem to have been unearthed from the pieces themselves. A deeply artistic approach to jewelry, born from the imagination of Roberta and Sam, a British-Brazilian couple with a strong sensitivity to embellishment.
We caught up with Liva Ramanandraibe, owner, designer and heartfelt ambassador.
From October 3rd to 6th, Pampa The Brand will unveil its vision of contemporary craftsmanship at Premiere Classe in the Jardin des Tuileries.
Amid the curated elegance of Premiere Classe, Patricia Sáinz Martín—founder of PAT Studio, a handbag brand known for its sculptural refinement—presents a body of work that is sensory, deliberate, and timeless.
As the upcoming edition of Premiere Classe approaches, from the 3rd to the 6th of October 2025, the pulse of contemporary creativity meets the rhythm of craftsmanship. Carlota Cahis emerges with a proposal both fresh, intimate and luminously composed.
Amid the continuous energy of Bijorhca, held alongside Who’s Next—where trends are shaped, and creative ideas collide—one enigmatic figure captured the audience’s attention. Gabrielle Huguenot, winner of the Hyères Grand Jury Prize in the Accessories category, transcended the stage of this event, operated under the BOCI, with a performance that was both unsettling and hypnotic.
Interview with Rem D. Koolhaas, Creative Director and Founder of United Nude, ahead of Premiere Classe 7th to 10th of March 2025 edition.
During the latest edition of Premiere Classe, held in the heart of the Carrousel du Louvre, one of the event's most anticipated moments was the talk by Stephen Jones, the iconic British milliner.
Founded by sisters Fazla and Eda Topbaş, Vuqu is a Turkish leather goods house based in Istanbul that skillfully combines elegance and functionality.
Founded by Japanese designer Akane Horikami, Ten. has become a go-to brand for those seeking a blend of nature, minimalism, and contemporary elegance. At this fifth participation in Premiere Classe, Ten. continued to captivate with a collection exploring fluid lines while introducing more geometric elements.
At her debut showing at Premiere Classe, Raquel Figueroa Borque, founder of the leather goods brand RFB, shared her journey, inspirations, and vision for a sustainable, timeless, and meaningful approach to fashion.
Founded by Ludovica Virga, House of Mua Mua stands out with its playful, humour-filled approach to fashion. At this September’s edition of Premiere Classe, Ludovica presented her new collection, Happiness is a Summer in Italy, inspired by her summer holiday memories. This collection brilliantly reflects the brand’s DNA, combining light-heartedness, humour, and meticulous craftsmanship.
The hat and accessories house Catarzi 1910, led by the Nistri couple as co-directors and designers, represents far more than a family business. It embodies a century of artisanal traditions, creativity, and innovation carried across generations.
Amambaih, founded by Mariela Schwartz Montielle, represents a unique fusion of art, culture, and humanity. Originally from Paraguay, Mariella draws on her multicultural roots to realise a creative vision that goes far beyond simply crafting artisanal shoes and bags.
Based in New York City, the hat brand Esenshel, founded and led by Rodney Patterson, embodies a unique approach to hat creation.
For Thaïs Roblowski, fashion is a true calling, and after studying design and pattern-making at the Chambre Syndicale and interning at Thom Browne in New York and Mugler, she became a stylist at Cacharel and Alzaro.
Amid the vibrant energy of emerging talents shaping the future of fashion, one designer stands out for her bold vision and unwavering commitment to sustainability. Léa Theres Lahr-Thiele, the young German prodigy and winner of the prestigious NEONYT Texpertise Sustainability Award, shines brightly this season with her meaningful and innovative approach to design.
Founded in 2021 by Germain Provot Lorenz, Treaptyque is far more than just a showroom—it's a vibrant and unique space dedicated to curating exceptional pieces.
The Premiere Classe fair will soon open its doors to unveil an exclusive selection of leather goods brands and bags creators. This prestigious event shall showcase the exceptional craftsmanship and ongoing innovation within the Italian creative landscape.
KEIA (Korea Environmental Industry Association) advocates for eco-conscious initiatives among creative industries in South Korea and abroad notably. Since 2023, the association has been exhibiting on our IMPACT trade show along with Who’s Next. Their project revolves around supporting and promoting sustainable practices and key players of Korea’s industries on an international scale.
Street Culture resonates with the complexity of a city’s soul. The people, as a community, are those who define and codify its intricacies. Lifestyle, Fashion, Art and Music intertwine through the cosmopolitan blend that characterizes the singularity of a city’s vibe and energy.
Founded in Rimini from the vision of the eponymous young Italian designer, Judy Mazzotti, Judy created her brand with a focus on the future and research and development centred on innovation and sustainability.
As a partner of the Prix de la Création de la Ville de Paris, Premiere Classe is inviting Domestique - Prix Accessoires de Mode, and Clara Daguin - Grand Prix Mode, from 1 to 4 March 2024.
Every year since 1985, Hyères has played host to the Festival de la Mode et de la Photographie.
In an exhibition at the entrance of Premiere Classe, Birimian shed light on the African New Avant-Garde Creative, which is supported through a unique accelerator program in partnership with the Institut Français de la Mode.
We met with founder and designer Asato Kitamura for his Paris premiere, showcasing his blend of Japanese philosophy and Western fashion.
For Andrina Goussous, stylist for luxury e-shop Ounass, Premiere Classe has everything it takes to charm Middle Eastern customers, increasingly in tune with a Parisian approach to fashion.
At Fenda, shapes are crafted by hands, jewels are inspired by cutlery in a Salvador Dali spirit, and Brazilian stones seem to have been unearthed from the pieces themselves. A deeply artistic approach to jewelry, born from the imagination of Roberta and Sam, a British-Brazilian couple with a strong sensitivity to embellishment.
We caught up with Liva Ramanandraibe, owner, designer and heartfelt ambassador.
Mixing ready-to-wear, accessories, fabrics and jewelry in a single place, a match made in heaven for the founder of this Dutch shop. She told us about her journey from retail to creation.
Amid the curated elegance of Premiere Classe, Patricia Sáinz Martín—founder of PAT Studio, a handbag brand known for its sculptural refinement—presents a body of work that is sensory, deliberate, and timeless.
As the upcoming edition of Premiere Classe approaches, from the 3rd to the 6th of October 2025, the pulse of contemporary creativity meets the rhythm of craftsmanship. Carlota Cahis emerges with a proposal both fresh, intimate and luminously composed.
Interview with Janina Düttmann, Designer and Founder of Düttmann, during Premiere Classe March 2025 Edition under ‘Jardins des Tuileries’ iconic venue.
As the global fashion industry gathered in Paris for the latest edition of Premiere Classe, a new voice in the world of accessories emerged — Millia. Founded by Carmen Inez, the Amsterdam-based brand offers a bold, conceptual approach to leather good design, drawing from architectural forms, interior design influences, and a rather eclectic color palette. With a deep commitment to craftsmanship and sustainability, Millia's presence under the tents of Premiere Classe thoroughly captured the attention of buyers and creatives alike.
For her first participation at Premiere Classe, Christine Phung introduces a collection that merges architectural precision with fluid motion and all elements of Nature’s energy expression, a balance between structure and radiance expressed by colours and patterns with underlying deep meaningful expressions. With a career spanning prestigious houses like Lemaire, Chloé, and Vanessa Bruno, Phung has refined a pragmatic yet poetic approach to design.
As Premiere Classe once again gathered the most visionary emerging designers, Petite A stood out with its ethereal craftsmanship and poetic use of glass as a main creative medium.
On her first visit to Paris for the Premiere Classe trade show, Pamela Duque — a buyer for the URBN group, which includes Urban Outfitters, Anthropologie, and Nuuly — offered a fresh take on the show’s distinctive positioning. She attended with the aim of curating a selection for Nuuly, URBN’s short-term clothing and accessories rental platform.
For the buyers at Al Tayer, based in Dubai, Premiere Classe is an essential destination for discovering emerging brands and spotting unique pieces that resonate with their luxury-conscious clientele. This year, Anastasia Gurskaya and other members of her team focused on accessories and jewellery, seeking out brands that align with the Middle Eastern market’s appreciation for exclusivity, craftsmanship, and sustainability.
At the latest edition of Who’s Next in January 2025, Esra Baysal, buyer for Istanbul-based concept store Vakko, had a clear mission. Her goal? To seek out excellence and a unique identity. The purpose? To enhance their global selection for the season.
Opening a boutique is a dream come true for Véronique Cheurlin, who has been attending Who’s Next for three seasons in search of hidden gems.
The doors of Victorienne, a family-run luxury boutique in Bolzano, Italy, have welcomed customers for the past 36 years. Specializing in premium European and American brands, the store has become a staple for high-end fashion lovers. Today, Sophie Carreras, who grew up immersed in this world, shares insights into her profession.
36 years ago, Maha Misto opened the first Green Bird Boutique in Abu Dhabi. Since then, she has opened two more stores showcasing premium brands, from Couture to ready-to-wear. During the last Who’s Next edition, she explained her job and her views on the industry.
The latest edition of Who's Next marked a significant milestone for Belgian fashion designer Valentine Witmeur, allowing her to showcase her brand and its evolution.
For the past ten years, Khadra Fliss has been walking the aisles of the Bijorhca trade show. She is the creator of the successful jewelry brand Belle mais pas que, which specializes in Miyuki beads. She shares her story with us and unveils the new pieces that will mark this season.
Interview with Rem D. Koolhaas, Creative Director and Founder of United Nude, ahead of Premiere Classe 7th to 10th of March 2025 edition.
Since its creation in 2017, The Good Goods has established itself as a unique media and creative studio, dedicated to transforming the fashion, textile, and luxury industries.
In the vibrant setting of the Beyond the Noise space at Premiere Classe, a talk hosted by Mixte Magazine captivated the audience with an audacious theme: how the new generation of designers is reshaping fashion by reconnecting with nature and craftsmanship.
Founded by sisters Fazla and Eda Topbaş, Vuqu is a Turkish leather goods house based in Istanbul that skillfully combines elegance and functionality.
Founded by Japanese designer Akane Horikami, Ten. has become a go-to brand for those seeking a blend of nature, minimalism, and contemporary elegance. At this fifth participation in Premiere Classe, Ten. continued to captivate with a collection exploring fluid lines while introducing more geometric elements.
At her debut showing at Premiere Classe, Raquel Figueroa Borque, founder of the leather goods brand RFB, shared her journey, inspirations, and vision for a sustainable, timeless, and meaningful approach to fashion.
Founded by Ludovica Virga, House of Mua Mua stands out with its playful, humour-filled approach to fashion. At this September’s edition of Premiere Classe, Ludovica presented her new collection, Happiness is a Summer in Italy, inspired by her summer holiday memories. This collection brilliantly reflects the brand’s DNA, combining light-heartedness, humour, and meticulous craftsmanship.
The hat and accessories house Catarzi 1910, led by the Nistri couple as co-directors and designers, represents far more than a family business. It embodies a century of artisanal traditions, creativity, and innovation carried across generations.
Amambaih, founded by Mariela Schwartz Montielle, represents a unique fusion of art, culture, and humanity. Originally from Paraguay, Mariella draws on her multicultural roots to realise a creative vision that goes far beyond simply crafting artisanal shoes and bags.
As the western aesthetic captivates designers, brands, and consumers, one French brand is riding the wave: Soco. Created in 1932, this “sleeping beauty” brand was revived three years ago, following a brief closure, thanks to the efforts of two passionate sisters-in-law who share the same first name. So the story of Soco is continuing under the stewardship of the “Maries Mignon.”
The Turkish brand Khailo Silver has been offering modern and elegant jewellery for over ten years. With meticulous finishes inspired by fine and high jewellery, their premium designs, often adorned with Swarovski crystals or other precious and semi-precious stones, have made them internationally renowned.
Founded in 2015 by the Italian duo Michelangelo Brancato and Francilla Ronchi, Coreterno is a niche perfume brand whose name means “eternal heart” in Italian, and the brand creates unique candles imbued with esotericism. Their style is a blend of rock, almost punk aesthetics, and a mystical aura, forming an invisible bridge between the ancient and the modern.
Based in New York City, the hat brand Esenshel, founded and led by Rodney Patterson, embodies a unique approach to hat creation.
Presenting for the first time at Premiere Classe, Amina Galal represents a new generation of Arab designers who blend tradition and modernity with a personal, emotional touch.
For Thaïs Roblowski, fashion is a true calling, and after studying design and pattern-making at the Chambre Syndicale and interning at Thom Browne in New York and Mugler, she became a stylist at Cacharel and Alzaro.
The Parisian eye of Japanese department store Isetan Mitsukoshi tells us about her latest Who’s Next fashion crushes.
Reinhard Plank (Founder and milliner), originally from Vipiteno (Italy) near the Austrian border, first studied design in Vienna before turning to millinery. "I started with hats in Vienna, and my first classic model was a great success," he says. Drawn to Florence's rich hat-making heritage, Reinhard chose this city to perfect his craft.
At the latest edition of “Who’s Next,” we spoke with Camille Pouvreau and Lucas Bouteille, watch and jewellery buyers for Galeries Lafayette, about the burgeoning men’s jewellery market and the long-lasting nature of trends in the watch sector.
A key player in the watchmaking industry since the 1950s, the American Movado Group initially established itself through the distribution of traditional Swiss brands. Over time, it expanded globally, broadening its portfolio to include contemporary designs and jewellery.
Founded in 1954 by the current owner’s parents, Antonio, the Italian shoe brand Guglielmo Rotta is the perfect example of a family craftsmanship that has evolved while remaining true to its roots. At this edition, the brand presented a collection that perfectly illustrates its commitment to quality, timelessness, and Italian craftsmanship.
“Streetwear but make it Couture!” Very Rare, a lifestyle and ready-to-wear brand under the direction of Raf Reyes, embodies an avant-garde vision of streetwear through what the designer defines as ‘street couture’. Born during the 2020 health crisis, this family-run brand, founded with his older brother, stands out for its fluid silhouettes, intricate details such as embroidery, flocking, and graphic prints, and strong influences from 90s subcultures.
For over 15 years, BSL, a Turkish ready-to-wear brand, has made a name for itself in the fashion market in Turkey, with stores in the country’s major cities such as Istanbul, Izmir, Ankara, and Antalya. Initially focused on its own retail outlets, BSL adopted a new strategy last year: expanding its distribution network across Europe.
Reinterpreting its heritage Braccialini, the iconic Italian brand from Florence, is celebrating its 70th anniversary this year. "We were born in Florence, and the natural and architectural beauty of Tuscany greatly inspires our creations," shares Daniela, the brand's sales agent.
Craftsmanship at the heart of jewellery creation: a self-taught journey and the rise of gatsby soldering workshop Fifteen years ago, Julie Sion made her mark in the world of costume jewellery with a unique and passionate approach. "I stumbled into this profession a bit by chance," she admits. Self-taught, her first steps into creation were through a craft-focused approach, before collaborating with French workshops to ensure ethical and high-quality production for her eponymous brand. These collaborations led her to develop a strong and engaged community, not only around her creative project but also through the human values she upholds in her work.
During their debut at Who’s Next, the South Korean brand Temp’s, led by Joanne Jeon Eun-jung, captured attention with its deep commitment to sustainability, combined with a modern and conceptual approach to design.
Pamela Kemmat, the influencer and founder of the Pamela Rouen boutique, and her mother Nadège Thevenon, founder of the Paloma Rouen boutique, share their thoughts on “Who’s Next,” an event they regard as the beating heart of the fashion industry.
Meet Abasiekeme Ukanireh, the visionary founder and artistic director of Eki Kere, a Nigerian brand that has captivated audiences with its unique creations, showcasing vibrant raffia-based designs.
Who's Next? The great thing about the initial chaos of Who's Next is that it has lasted.
Street Culture resonates with the complexity of a city’s soul. The people, as a community, are those who define and codify its intricacies. Lifestyle, Fashion, Art and Music intertwine through the cosmopolitan blend that characterizes the singularity of a city’s vibe and energy.
Since its inception in 2019, La Mode Européenne (LME) has stood out for its innovative and transformative approach to the fashion industry. By creating solidarity shops in Congo-Brazzaville and Cape Verde, stocked through donation boxes for clothing and accessories circulated in France and Europe, La Mode Européenne is committed to social and professional reintegration and creating local employment.
Lavinia Muth, an economist specialising in business ethics for actors of the fashion landscape, has dedicated 15 years to advancing social and ecological standards in the textile and creative industries. Her work as an external auditor, inspector, and investigator, in collaboration with Messe Frankfurt’s trade shows for instance, underscores her commitment to fighting against “corporate sustainability” and “green-washing”.
Julien Martinez, founder of the high-end ‘souliers’ brand Souliers Martinez, embodies the perfect fusion of traditional artisanal craftsmanship and contemporary innovation. Combining his deep Spanish roots with his Parisian cultural influences, his company stands out with a unique approach to leather weaving, supported by committed sustainable values and strong ethics.
Founded in Rimini from the vision of the eponymous young Italian designer, Judy Mazzotti, Judy created her brand with a focus on the future and research and development centred on innovation and sustainability.
Every year since 1985, Hyères has played host to the Festival de la Mode et de la Photographie.
Bastien Beny and Simon Delacour are the creative minds behind the Domestique brand, leather goods accessories made in Paris.
At La Caserne, a sustainable fashion incubator in Paris's 10th arrondissement, Jeanne Friot crafts impactful fashion.