Siblings Elsa, Mathieu and Antoine Mothay, grandsons of the founder of French ready-to-wear brand Saint James, launched Polène in Paris in 2016 with the ambition to “capture the essence of a true leather goods brand,” explains Antoine. “We thought that was what creating (Antoine is now CEO and the only family member still involved in the brand, with direct responsibility for operations, finance, creative direction and production.) The legacy of tailoring is evident: Polène began with the Numéro Un and now has 13 handbags. styles (or “collections,” as it’s called), priced between $460 and $690—luxury without the status premium—and three distinct jewelry lines.
