About Hélène

A PIONEERING FRENCH DESIGNER

Born in Paris in 1965, she studied at Studio Berçot before building her career designing accessories for the fashion and luxury industries, notably for Hermes, Celine, and Karl Lagerfeld. In 1990, she gained recognition with her brand 31 Février Paris, winning an Andam Fashion Award. Some of her handbag creations are part of the permanent collection at the Musée des Arts Décoratifs in Paris. In 2024, the French Mobilier National acquired two of her object designs.

"WE LOVE SINGULARITY"

Her creative process is defined by singularity, surprise, and fantasy, all of which shape her work with leather, her signature material. She creates through a bespoke approach that prioritizes human interaction and highlights the craftsmanship of leather goods.

Discover Hélène's Eccentric Bags
  •  1986

    Graduated from Studio Berçot

  • 1987

    Fondation of the brand 31 Février, which distinguished itself by reintroducing the concept of the "object-bag" into the very traditional field of leather goods. Widely distributed internationally, some models are part of the collections at the Musée des Arts Décoratifs in Paris. Musée des Arts Décoratifs de Paris

  • 1988

    First collaboration with Karl Lagerfeld, creating bags for his Spring-Summer ready-to-wear show, with more that will follow.

  • 1989

    Bag creations for Thierry Mugler, “Africaine” Spring/Summer 1988 collection, “Les Infernales” Autumn/Winter 1988/1989 collection. The Coffin Bag was showcased at the retrospective at the Musée des Arts Décoratifs in 2022.

  • 1990

    Winner of the ANDAM Fashion Award presented in Paris, 31 Février is the first accessories brand to receive this prestigious award.

  • 2013

    Professor at the Institut Français de la Mode in the Major Creation Accessories department.

  • 2015

    Creation of a series of objects for Hermès, Petit h.

  • 2016

    Presentation of the first object, « le bureau mural » at the Hermès store on Rue de Sèvres.

  • 2017

    Installation of « L’épouvantail de salon » at the Hermès store on Rue du Faubourg Saint-Honoré.

  • 2020

    New design for Hermès Petit h: Les Housses de sac Casaque, a bag cover for all their models.

  • 2022

    Creation of a SS22 capsule collection "Open the Window" for Mark Cross in New York, inspired by the brand's history and Alfred Hitchcock's film "Rear Window."

  • 2022

    Exposition Rue de Varenne from March 24-28 Mars 2022

  • 2022

    Creation "Le Coussin Cadenas", presented at the Hermès Iconsiam store in Bangkok.

  • 2022 / 2023

    Creation of "Les Maillons Coussins Chaîne d'Ancre," presented at the Hermès Iconsiam store in Bangkok and in Osaka, May 2023

  • 2023

    Member of the jury for the "Meilleurs Ouvriers de France" leatherwork examination.

  • 2023

    Selfies Sellier & Pompom Lamps, exhibition at the Hôtel de Crillon Paris.

  • 2023

    Exposition des lampes Pompom chez Private Choice du 13 au 22 Octobre 2023

  • 2023

    Collaboration with Super A Market, featuring an exhibition in Tokyo and Kyoto, Japan.

  • 2024

    The Pompom lamp and The Corridor à Franges joined the collection of the Mobilier National.

  • 2024

    Exhibition at the Gien store in Paris.

  • 2024

    Exhibition at the Musée des Arts Décoratifs,
    FASHION, NEW GENERATIONS: 35 YEARS OF ANDAM