LVMH Métiers d’Art to Present “WASHI” in Paris, Highlighting Japanese Paper Craftsmanship and Innovation

LVMH Métiers d’Art will present “WASHI: the art of crafting paper, where tradition unlocks innovation” at its Paris showroom La Main (The Hand), as the second chapter of “Métiers d'Art du Japon,” a special exhibition series spotlighting Japan’s exceptional craftsmanship. The exhibition reinterprets washi, Japan’s traditional paper material, and presents its new possibilities while tracing its past, present, and future from an international perspective. Washi is a uniquely Japanese material still produced in regions across Japan, including Echizen. For more than a thousand years, it has supported Japanese culture not only in calligraphy and painting, but also in architecture, crafts, and many other fields. In recent years, innovations such as washi yarn, hybridization with other materials, foil processing, and integration with digital technology have positioned washi as a next-generation material attracting attention in fashion, interiors, packaging, architecture, and beyond. The exhibition highlights both the cultural value and industrial potential of washi through the distinctive perspective of LVMH Métiers d’Art. Through collaborations with artists, ateliers, and brands in Japan and abroad, it will present numerous special works created for the exhibition, bringing together hand-papermaking techniques passed down for more than a millennium with contemporary sensibility and innovation. With the support of Kyoto Prefecture, many craft businesses connected to Kyoto, including those from the Tango region, will also participate, introducing new expressive possibilities for washi through work that combines regional heritage with modern creativity. The exhibition will also feature major artworks by Eriko Horiki, a leading artist in washi expression. In addition, in support of MUFG’s KOGEI ARTISTS LEAGUE initiative, which assists young makers who will carry the next generation of craft culture and techniques, the exhibition will present new works by three artists selected from the first group of finalists through a contest based on the theme of washi. Together, these works reveal the unique expressive power and potential of washi from fresh angles. Contemporary products and materials using washi will also be introduced, giving visitors the opportunity to touch and experience products created in collaboration with fashion, interior, and textile companies. The exhibition will include silk washi, hemp washi, and innovative material development through cross-craft collaborations with partner companies. From one-of-a-kind pieces that retain the texture of traditional handwork to materials developed with industrial production in mind, the show positions washi within the luxury market and international design context. It will also introduce designs using new materials by SOSHIOTSUKI, winner of the 12th LVMH Prize 2025, as well as leather that expresses the texture of washi through partner companies’ tanning techniques, expanding washi from a material into a concept. The exhibition will be viewable by appointment from May 28 to June 3, 2026, with a public opening scheduled for May 30. It will be closed on May 31. Through this exhibition, LVMH Métiers d’Art aims to present the diverse expressions of washi at the intersection of tradition and innovation, while broadly communicating the potential of Japanese craftsmanship in Japan and internationally. Exhibition details: LVMH Métiers d’Art special exhibition “WASHI: the art of crafting paper, where tradition unlocks innovation”; dates: May 28 to June 3, 2026; public opening: May 30 only; closed: May 31; venue: LVMH Métiers d’Art showroom La Main (The Hand); address: 69 Rue Réaumur, Paris 75002; hours: 10:00–17:00, with May 30 open from 11:00–17:00; admission: free. Supported by Kyoto Prefecture. Special sponsors: Japan Airlines and Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group. Special cooperation: PFI and Mizuno. Participating companies and artists include: Art: Eriko Horiki and Associates, MUFG Kogei Project, Tamiya Raden, MIKITYPE, Wataru Hatano, Sylvain Le Guen x Ichibei Iwano IX, Tony Jouanneau - Atelier Sumbiosis, and Anna Normand. Materials: Tamiya Raden, Sosaku Kobo Ito Asobi, Tayuh Textile, Miyashin, Kuska Fabric, PFI, KUROKI, and Ichibei Iwano IX, holder of Important Intangible Cultural Property techniques. Products: Mizuno, SOSHIOTSUKI, Domyo, HOSOO, Wajima Kirimoto, Kojimaan, SIWA KOUZO, Shoyeido, Gion Naito, and BODHI. Since its founding in 2015, LVMH Métiers d’Art has operated as a community spanning five continents. It is a global network of forward-thinking manufactures and artisans that promotes innovation while maintaining a constant focus on sustainability, enabling significant emissions reductions and streamlined production processes. It brings together suppliers with outstanding expertise in the luxury industry, including leather tanning, livestock farming, printing and finishing, metalwork, and textile and fabric production. For bovine and ovine leather, LVMH Métiers d’Art has established bases in France, Italy, and Spain. It has selected Domaine des Massifs as a partner for livestock, while partnerships with Les Tanneries Roux, Masoni, and Riba Guixà secure supplies of exceptional calfskin and lambskin. It has also invested in Robans, known for its expertise in leather ready-to-wear sewing. Similar efforts have been made in exotic leathers: LVMH Métiers d’Art has built a network of Animal Welfare-certified facilities in Africa, Australia, and the United States to ensure traceability in breeding, brought Heng Long Leather, an internationally recognized specialist in crocodile leather tanning and finishing, under its umbrella, and acquired a majority stake in Spain-based Verdeveleno, known for top-level expertise in lizard and python tanning. LVMH Métiers d’Art has also added Menegatti, GBJM, and Jade, manufacturers based in Europe and Asia that supply top-quality metal pieces to luxury maisons, as partners. In December 2022, it established LVMH Métiers d’Art Japan as its base of operations in Japan. In April 2023, it signed its first partnership in Japan with KUROKI Co., Ltd., a denim fabric manufacturer based in Okayama Prefecture, one of the world’s leading denim production regions.