One thing most of my friends mention after coming back from Paris is spotting a line outside a major bag store. The line snakes down the street. While many assume it’s for the usual luxury suspects, it’s often for the French brand Polène.
Polène may be under ten years old, founded in 2016 by siblings Antoine, Mathieu, and Elsa Mothay, but it has quickly earned a place in the hearts of bag lovers worldwide. Its meteoric rise is no accident. The brand hits the sweet spot of accessible luxury, pairing Parisian chic with high-quality materials and thoughtful design at a mid-range price point. The bags feel effortless to wear, as if they were made just for real life in a city that demands both style and practicality.
I’ve been a fan since first discovering Polène, and with each season, the brand reinvents its most beloved silhouettes. This winter, they’ve introduced Merino wool and plush Alpaca, giving familiar designs a soft, cozy edge. The color palette is rich and warm, perfectly suited to the colder months.
These materials are delicate, which means the bags will show wear faster than their leather counterparts, but there is something undeniably charming about that patina forming over time. A cozy bag feels intimate, inviting, and somehow comforting, like wrapping yourself in a favorite scarf.
Leather Hues
This season, Polène’s classic leathers are reinterpreted in deep cognacs, muted taupes, and subtle jewel tones. They have that perfect Parisian balance of understated yet distinctive, making a statement without shouting.
Winter Materials
Merino wool and Alpaca bring a softness that feels seasonal and luxe at the same time. They pair beautifully with heavy coats, chunky knits, and crisp winter mornings. Or if you are in Florida, like me, they work with your everyday denim and simple tops. These pieces are less about enduring every weather mishap and more about celebrating the textures, colors, and tactile pleasures of winter dressing. And they set the mood for your entire outfit.
Polène’s approach reminds me why I keep coming back. It’s luxury without pretense, chic without overcomplication, and thoughtfully designed for life as it really is.
These Merino wool Cyme are super hard to resist. I have the Cyme in carmel leather and it is a good bag. Not a great bag. I use my neverfull far more often because the cyme falls open and putting stuff in is awkward. I’ve found with all the Polene bags I’ve bought, except the Cyme I’ve ended up moving them along. The design and leather is impecable, but the usability is not. I’ve had issues getting my hands in and out of the bags and they hurt or bite. Now this Cyme looks like it would be quite usable.
I love Polene bags both for their design and for their leather quality. In addition, these bags are manufactured in Ubrique, Spain as well as many leather products from Loewe, Louis Vuitton, JW Anderson, Ami Paris, Jaquemous, etc. Just in case, in case someone makes a mess, Spain is in Europe.
Many years ago I used to knit and these knitted bags just gave me the willing to be back at it and knit my own, scouring the web to find a similar pattern…
This was exactly what I was looking for. Appreciate the effort!