Galeries Lafayette partners with famous French journalist and influencer
What: Galeries Lafayette is partnering with journalist and author Sophie Fontanel to curate a poetic, influencer-driven rentrée experience, blending social media storytelling with in-store product curation.
Why it is important: This collaboration demonstrates how department stores are leveraging influencer partnerships and digital storytelling to enhance customer engagement and drive experiential retail.
Galeries Lafayette’s rentrée will be animated by the creative vision of Sophie Fontanel, a prominent journalist and author known for her poetic and humanistic approach to fashion. Rather than focusing on a single designer or region, the department store is inviting customers to follow Fontanel’s curated journey through its spaces, where her seasonal favorites will be showcased in both window displays and Instagram-style mini-films. This initiative merges the immediacy and intimacy of social media content with the tactile experience of physical retail, offering a fresh perspective on product discovery. Fontanel’s selection spans established brands like Ami, Levi’s, Ferragamo, Stella McCartney, and Carven, as well as emerging labels such as Gauchère, Maison Jejia, and Zomer, with an emphasis on inclusivity and accessible price points. The campaign extends beyond the flagship Haussmann store to the entire French network, highlighting a commitment to diversity and multi-category curation, including non-leather goods and lifestyle finds. This approach positions Galeries Lafayette at the forefront of experiential, content-driven retail.
IADS Notes: Galeries Lafayette’s collaboration with Sophie Fontanel for the rentrée exemplifies the department store’s ongoing strategy of leveraging high-profile partnerships and innovative marketing to drive engagement, as seen in its recent growth and experiential initiatives (July 2025, June 2025, September 2024). The integration of Instagram-inspired mini-films and curated wish lists into the store’s visual merchandising reflects a broader industry trend, where content and commerce converge to create immersive, social media-friendly retail environments that resonate with digital-native consumers (February 2025, March 2025). This approach is further supported by the retailer’s commitment to curating a diverse mix of established and emerging brands, aligning with its USD 400 million investment in network optimization and its efforts to spotlight new talent through dedicated showcases and pop-ups (February 2025, March 2025, May 2025). Finally, the inclusion of non-leather goods, accessible price points, and multi-category selections underscores Galeries Lafayette’s dedication to inclusivity and sustainability, building on its recent CSR strategy and expansion of second-hand and responsible product offerings (April 2025, January 2025, December 2024).
