LA REDOUTE, ONE STEP AHEAD. FASHION, DESIGN, ADVERTISING
Exhibition from 7 March to 5 July 2026
A product of the industrial revolution in the 19th century, Roubaix made a name for itself as a textile town. Having been founded in 1837 by Joseph Pollet, La Redoute is above all a story about the intrepid entrepreneurs based in Roubaix. La Piscine museum is offering to tell this success story that was born out of a family-owned spinning mill renowned for its remarkably fine woven and knitted fabrics. Over time, the brand became the leading mail order business in Europe before establishing itself as a major player in French e-commerce in the ready-to-wear fashion and home-interior design sectors.
This visionary brand laid the foundations of modern commerce with the following major innovations: bringing fashion to a mainstream audience with the first mail-order catalogue in 1928, “household-furniture-leisure” department in 1956, Kangaroo credit card in 1968, “guest designer” from 1969, Minitel service in 1982, “48h Chrono delivery” in 1984 which became “24h Chrono delivery” before the arrival of the internet revolution. Its history features so many innovative milestones.
The goal of the exhibition is to go beyond this commercial revolution and examine the role of La Redoute in the development of society and consumption patterns. Drawing on its archives of advertisements, sales catalogues, testimonials, postcards, photographs and clothing, the exhibition takes you on a rich journey of discovery. This retrospective also highlights collaborations with renowned dressmakers and ready-to-wear designers (Yves Saint Laurent, Issey Miyake, Azzedine Alaïa, Sonia Rykiel, Jacquemus, Kevin Germanier, etc.), leading designers (Sam Baron, Constance Guisset, Philippe Starck, Jean-Michel Wilmotte, Christian Lacroix) and celebrity portraits photographed by Dominique Issermann and Kate Barry, among others.
Curator: Karine Lacquemant, curator of the applied arts collections at La Piscine – André Diligent Museum of Art and Industry, Sylvette Lepers, head of creator partnerships & image at La Redoute, Sandrine Tinturier, head of archives at the Azzedine Alaïa Foundation.
This exhibition benefits from the exceptional support of La Redoute.
The scenography was completed thanks to the generous support of Tollens paint.
Caption: Art & Tricot album, 50 elegant and practical models – 1932
