Iconic fashion retailer Colette returns momentarily for a limited run of 10 days.
In a nostalgic nod to the past, Sarah Andelman, the former co-owner of the iconic Parisian concept store Colette, has announced a new chapter for the pioneering retail space. The pop-up store, set to open on September 30 at the Grand Palais in Paris, is a tribute to the late polymath, Virgil Abloh.
The pop-up store is the result of Sarah Andelman's history of collaboration with Abloh, a close friend who shared a curiosity-driven creative sensibility. Before fashion took sneakers and streetwear seriously, Colette stocked limited edition Nikes alongside Chanel, a testament to Abloh's deep reverence for the fashion hotspot.
The pop-up store will resemble the original ground-floor boutique, featuring a dynamic assortment of emerging designer collections, graphic tees, sneakers, fragrances, limited-edition merchandise, art books, and fashion magazines. New merch by collaborators and friends like Cactus Plant Flea Market, Travis Scott, and Sterling Ruby's S.R. STUDIO. LA. CA. will also be available.
At the heart of Colette's singular mix was Andelman's belief that what was happening on the streets was as important as what was happening on the runway. This ethos will be reflected in the pop-up store, which will also house Abloh-related books and zines.
The Colette installation in the "Virgil Abloh: The Codes" exhibition at the Grand Palais will be overseen by the Virgil Abloh Archive, with collaborators and friends involved in the creation of merchandise. The exact names of the individuals responsible are not explicitly stated, but the exhibition runs from September 30 to October 10, 2025.
When the VAS team proposed the Colette pop-up store project, Andelman accepted immediately. She described the Colette revival as a tribute to the designer, who had an unbridled "excitement to transmit his creativity to the new generation." Shannon Abloh, CEO of Virgil Abloh Securities (VAS) and steward of her husband's legacy, made a statement about the Colette pop-up store, expressing enthusiasm for the partnership.
The pop-up store will also feature a Colette installation as both living artwork and a gift shop. The iconic scent, "L'Air De Colette" candle, will be sold during the event. Reissued products designed by Virgil Abloh for Colette during his career will also be available.
The Colette pop-up store is a significant event, marking the first major European show of the late polymath's work. It is a celebration of a unique friendship and a creative partnership that left an indelible mark on the fashion industry.
