Bag, bag, bag. More Than a Bag: the new free fashion exhibition at Printemps Paris Haussmann

Printemps Haussmann is emptying its bag and making a big event of it with Sac, sac, sac. More Than a Bag, a free fashion exhibition to be discovered from September 4 to October 26, 2025 under its mythical blue art deco dome on Boulevard Haussmann. After making fashionistas' hearts beat faster with Vestologie last autumn, the department store is devoting this autumn to the accessory that does it all: the bag.

XXL tote bag or mini clutch, cult baguette, retro bowling bag or ingenious multi-pocket, vintage or minimalist, puffy or ultra-accessorized... Whether slipped on the hand, wedged on the shoulder, displayed as a crossbody or swung on the back, the bag isn't just used to carry our lives. It tells the story of an era, a designer, a style. Once relegated to the underskirts of eighteenth-century petticoats or tucked away in Renaissance zippers, they now reign supreme in the fashion industry, supplanting fans, muffs and parasols.

Under the Wybo dome, almost 200 pieces, brought together thanks to 40 private and institutional lenders, retrace this fascinating history in a twelve-section tour. Each stage plays on contrasts: luxury and ordinary, familiar and iconic, functional and exceptional, illusion and misappropriation. Aumônières, escarcelles, purses, reticules, pouches... the entire vocabulary of the bag comes together, like an ode to this universal object that is no longer an accessory.

As for designers, the crème de la crème are out in force: Louis Vuitton, Chanel, Prada, Longchamp and Lancel rub shoulders with the more confidential labels Phi 1.618, Léclisse, Damien Beal, Audette and Tammy & Benjamin. The former bring to life a century-old heritage with exceptional materials, while the latter focus on short circuits and artisanal excellence. Coperni pushes the boundaries of leather goods with sculptural shapes and bold materials, while Lemaire plays on radical minimalism, with every detail thought out to the millimeter. The whole show is adorned with an eco-responsible scenography, designed using materials recovered from the Vestologie exhibition.

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Because the future of the bag is also in the hands of the younger generation, the partnership with ESMOD International highlights the prototypes of emerging designers, including the winner of the Printemps X ESMOD 2025 prize.

And because our daily companions deserve to be pampered, Printemps is offering educational workshops at Le 7ème Ciel. Leather craftsmen share their professional secrets: diagnosis of sensitive areas, cleaning tips, moisturizing, waterproofing... On Saturdays, September 6, October 4 and October 18, 2025, you can go behind the scenes of leatherwork and, for the most tired bags, take advantage of a repair service based on an estimate.

"Bag, bag, bag. More Than a Bag" is a declaration of love to this cult object, by turns utilitarian, iconic and intimate. From heritage to avant-garde, Printemps Haussmann signs a couture exhibition that doesn't just wear fashion... it transports it!