What: Printemps renews its collaboration with ESMOD, supporting young talent through an exhibition, award, and co-branded product development.

Why it is important: This collaboration reflects a growing trend of department stores leveraging partnerships with emerging designers to drive innovation and refresh their in-house labels.

Printemps has reaffirmed its commitment to emerging fashion talent by renewing its partnership with ESMOD International for a second year, focusing this edition on the creative potential of the bag. The collaboration features an exhibition of ten student prototypes, selected by a Printemps jury, and highlights the forward-thinking vision of the next generation of designers. The winning creation by Roméo Gandon-Cattier, a Bachelor’s student specializing in accessories, stood out for its poetic simplicity, technical precision, and authentic storytelling, drawing inspiration from personal heritage and craftsmanship. Printemps will further support the winner by adapting the prototype into a co-branded piece for its Saison 1865 Spring-Summer 2026 collection, ensuring commercial viability while preserving creative integrity. This initiative not only nurtures new talent but also integrates their work into the retailer’s core offer, reflecting a broader industry movement toward collaboration, innovation, and the alignment of creativity with brand DNA. The partnership underscores the importance of storytelling, sustainability, and authenticity in contemporary retail, positioning Printemps at the forefront of experiential and responsible fashion.

IADS Notes: The renewed Printemps x ESMOD partnership exemplifies the evolving role of department stores as incubators for creative talent, echoing Galeries Lafayette’s long-term collaborations with emerging designers (“Marine Serre takes over Galeries Lafayette Haussmann’s windows,” Feb 2025; “Galeries Lafayette to highlight African fashion,” Mar 2025) and Printemps’ own heritage showcases (“Printemps Haussmann showcases its historic design studio's creations,” Jan 2025). The integration of student designs into commercial collections mirrors strategies at Le Bon Marché (“Le Bon Marché rethinks its private label,” Dec 2024) and 10 Corso Como (“10 Corso Como opens in Paris at Printemps,” Nov 2024), as well as Breuninger’s art-fashion collaborations (May 2025). The focus on sustainability and narrative aligns with recent initiatives at Fortnum & Mason (“Fortnum & Mason’s recycled materials window display,” Sep 2025), Galeries Lafayette (“Galeries Lafayette launches a new CSR strategy,” Apr 2025), and Maison Margiela (“Maison Margiela enters fashion’s culture race with line of ‘Intangible Products’,” Aug 2025).

Printemps and ESMOD deepen their partnership