Antoine Mothay can passionately discuss his love for leather for hours, covering aspects such as tanning, cutting, trimming, padding, and braiding. When it comes to detailing the craftsmanship behind Polène, the brand he co-founded in 2016 with his siblings Mathieu and Elsa—who are great-grandchildren of the founder of the renowned French maritime clothing brand Saint James—Mothay becomes even more animated. His team describes him as “unstoppable.” In his role as president and general director, he also ensures the brand maintains its aesthetic integrity. “I only just delegated the decision on the color of the edging… after eight years,” he remarked.
This remarkably successful brand embodies all the characteristics of luxury leather goods—captivating visuals, elegant flagship stores, timeless designs, and consistently refined taste—except for one aspect: pricing. A Polène bag ranges from €260 to €620, which is considered quite reasonable, especially as the prices of major brands’ flagship items have surged following the Covid-19 pandemic. Since its inception, Polène has experienced steady growth, doubling its sales annually without any setbacks. By 2023, the company’s revenue reached €142.7 million.
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