Polène x Roísín Pierce 

Collaboration is always a uniquely compelling aspect of the fashion industry. For some brands, it's an opportunity to reinvigorate, while for others, it offers a chance to explore new visual identities. Brand partnerships are nothing new, yet there's something deeply satisfying about a collaboration that embodies that rare sense of creative chemistry. 

In this latest partnership, the Parisian leather goods house Polène has collaborated with the beautifully ethereal Irish designer Roísín Pierce on two handbags that embody the best of each brand. Scattered across street style pictures and Pinterest boards globally, Polène accessories are defined by meticulous craftsmanship, clean lines, and high-quality materials. Subtle? Yes. Chic? Absolutely. Opening a London flagship store at the end of last year and boasting over 2. 5 million followers on Instagram, the Parisian brand has certainly established itself as a major player in the industry. A mainstay on the Parisian sartorial calendar, Roísín Pierce is a designer who embodies a sense of lightness, offering collections that embrace feminine forms crafted with painstakingly delicate handwork. The partnership between the two brands has tapped into a unique artistic dialogue, opening Roísín Pierce to Polène's vast and varied customer base while allowing both brands to expand their visual identities.

Unveiled at Roísín's PFW presentation, the collaboration showcases two sculptural handbags that combine the designer's ornamental detailing with Polène's signature structured silhouettes. The Button Bow capsule features a box bag and a sphere bag adorned with beautifully hand-sewn buttons and bows, crafted from nappa calf leather. The geometric shapes and defined orb silhouettes are characteristic of Polène's codes, while the dainty embellishments of the coquettish bows and buttons are quintessentially Roísín, creating a bag that ultimately honours both houses' signature identities. The powder blue, porcelain, and midnight hues of the collection align with Roísín’s dreamy aesthetics while also maintaining Polène's knack for understatement.

Of course, the collaboration offers beautiful bags, but it also represents a business strategy that seeks to invest in young designers. In an industry renowned for its precarity, there's something affirming about a global brand like Polène offering a larger platform to smaller, independent designers like Roísín Pierce. If you happen to be in Paris (jealous), take a look at the bags in-store at Polène's Champs-Élysées branch. If not, explore the collection here and see the button bags for yourself!