This French Fashion Brand Is Breaking The Internet – And Is Already Loved By Kate Middleton

Emily in Paris and Kate Middleton rarely share the same style. While the Princess of Wales is more demure and regal, Emily is often the opposite of that with vibrant colour clashes, bold prints and theatrical accessories aplenty. And yet, we’ve found one bag brand sitting firmly in both of their wardrobes: Polène.

Founded in France in 2016, the label is now famous for what it describes as ‘minimalist beauty through unique design’. Think chic sculptural bags crafted from Spanish and Italian leather and modern twists on old classics – the bestselling extra large shopper, Cyme, being a prime example. And they’ve proven incredibly popular with Polène stores popping up in Paris, New York, Tokyo, Seoul and soon-to-be London at the end of this year. So, clearly, Emily and Kate Middleton are far from the only fans of the brand.

'We are very lucky to have several bestsellers, we do not have one standout design,' says Antoine Mothay, Polène’s CEO. 'We do not jump on passing trends, which is quite rare for a leather goods brand,' he adds before listing the Numéro Un bag, the Cyme tote, the Numéro Dix bag and the sculptural Numéro Neuf as the top four designs. And one scroll of social media will prove just how popular these designs truly are.

While the Polène Instagram account has an incredibly impressive 2.3 million followers, TikTok is now full of Polène bag unboxings and reviews, with some videos garnering over 7 million views. So, what’s the secret to success?

'The success of these styles can be attributed to their distinctive and elegant design, which combines functionality with aesthetics,' Mothay shares. Adding, 'the signature details, equestrian inspiration, and the trend of offering models in multiple sizes cater to a variety of customer needs and tastes, contributing to their popularity'.

Really, the brand combines fashion and functionality so seamlessly that these chic pieces can work for almost any occasion while offering a timeless quiet luxury look. Plus, as Mothay stresses, despite the relatively modest price point compared to some leather accessories labels, each piece is truly made to last by a team of more than 700 craftsmen building each Polène bag in Spain. So, if you too wish to add one of these bags to your wardrobe, the below styles are currently gaining the most traction.

Shop: The Trending Polène Bags

Lauren Cunningham is acting fashion news editor at Grazia. She currently lives between Lisbon and London and is always on the lookout for exciting collaborations, new small brands and those boasting impressive sustainability credentials. Find her on Instagram @laurencunningha.m.