Tom Sachs turns his downtown New York studio into a handmade interpretation of one of fashion’s most recognisable addresses. On view at Tom Sachs Studio, 245 Centre Street, from September 11th to October 10th, 2026, 31 Rue Cambon reconstructs the mythology of Chanel’s historic Parisian fashion house through plywood, paint, hardware and meticulous craft.
A handmade world built around Chanel
Named after Chanel’s iconic Paris flagship, 31 Rue Cambon imagines an alternate boutique where the codes of haute couture emerge through deliberately raw materials. Cream awnings and double-C gates lead into beige carpeting, mirrored walls and glass display cases, while 31 suits inspired by decades of Chanel designs line the space.
Sachs translates every detail into his industrial vocabulary: plywood replaces textiles, dragged paint evokes bouclé, while cardboard and wood become slingbacks and hardware forms jewellery, fixtures and other elements. A chandelier fitted with bicycle reflectors adds another playful note.
Where luxury meets bootleg culture
The installation extends Sachs’ interest in craftsmanship, branding and luxury, recasting the codes of a global fashion house through raw workshop materials. Stripped of familiar fabrics and commercial function, 31 Rue Cambon shifts the focus from consumption to the labour and ingenuity behind luxury.
The project continues ideas explored in Chanel Guillotine (Breakfast Nook) (1998), Nutsy’s (2003–2005) and the ongoing Space Program, where sculpture, architecture and making converge. Curated by Colby Mugrabi, the installation is free to visit, with limited capacity, through October 10th, 2026.
Photography courtesy of 31 RUE CAMBON and TOM SACHS
