Introducing Brigitte Tanaka

The "Brigitte project Tanaka" is Brigitte Giraudi and Chieko Tanaka - we came upon the brand during their collaboration for Jun Takahashi's UNDERCOVER 2024-2025 A/W women’s collection "Watching a Working Woman" and also through coverage in POPEYE Magazine. Brigitte is a Central Saint-Martins graduate and also runs her own jewelry line while directing a micro gallery of art in the gardens of the Royal Palace (https://3m2.fr/). Chieko hails from Tokyo and is founder & artistic director of Franco Japanese performances in Paris Intramuros in partnership with the Domaine du Palais Royal and the Center des Monuments Nationaux (https://rencontre-au-jardin.com/). Together they explore the magic within everyday objects, no better evident in their playfully embroidered eco-bags which are the focal point of their collaboration with UNDERCOVER and which has grown to be their signature.

In their own words:

"These sturdy organza bags from the "Métiers d'Antan" collection are an artistic diversion linking contemporary design and ecological initiative. The Brigitte Tanaka duo infuse sustainability and poetry into our daily lives with their personal interpretation of everyday objects. Playing on the paradox of our consumer society, this vintage-inspired organza embroidered bag is an original and resistant alternative to commercial plastic bags."

In May we had the pleasure of visiting Chieko at their incredible Paris boutique tucked into the corner of rue St-Roch and rue St-Honoré built into the side of a 17th century church. In the last century it was the old Robespierre hair salon—indeed the former barber of one Napoleon. Chock with details that play on their dualistic brand and the building codes of the ancient structure, the space is a fitting home for the brand and will host a special pop-up for UNDERCOVER during fashion week.

Brigitte Tanaka launches with special product in Goodfight (in studio & online) on Saturday August 31st alongside the A. Darling Kiosk.


What has been the most exciting part of your journey with Brigitte Tanaka?

We have had the chance to make many incredible collaborations with artists, designers, brands, but working with Sophie Calle for the “Musée Picasso”, developing a collection with the Japanese brand UNDERCOVER, or designing for Disney 100th anniversary has definitely been some highlights of our journey.

How did the idea of eco bags come about?

As designers we constantly develop and experiment with many different things and concepts, but working around everyday objects has always been something we were both a bit obsessed with. This embroidered eco-friendly shopping bag turned out to be quite successful and today it’s our brand’s signature.

What was the process of designing with Jun Takahashi like for the UNDERCOVER collection?

What was very interesting about the collaboration with Jun Takahashi was that he chose 14 designs from our existing collection and designed a parody of them with his own touch.

How did you come upon your boutique location and what are the most unique/fun elements of it ?

As diversion was our favorite design process, we randomly found a shop inside a church at the very start which was strange as our brand name is a mixture of our two names, as if our names merged like for a wedding. [In terms of historical significance] this tiny place used to be the barber of Napoleon and became a proper retail shop same day and year of Brigitte’s birth, which is quite a funny coincidence too!

Where do the artwork ideas for the bags usually come from?

We are very fond of antiques, especially antique packaging, which we like to transpose on modern objects to make cool and unexpected fusions.

What are your top five places to eat in Paris (food, coffee, wine, etc.) and why?

• Sanjo - Proper Japanese ramen!
• Cafe Verlet - A tea shop, located right next to the our shop, quite established, nice interior and very good coffee.
• Cafe les deux gares - Designed by Luke Edward Hall, authentic French cuisine at a reasonable price.
• Anahi - A famous Argentinian meat restaurant owned by the family of one of the two designers.
• Le doyenne - A must go place at 40 minute drive from the city. There is a farm on the premises, where you can enjoy freshly harvested vegetables. You can also stay overnight at this amazing location.

What music reminds you of home?

Brigitte: All Italian music, as I lived in Italy till the age of 3.
Tanaka: I am Japanese, but I grew up listening to European and American music, including film music, classical music, and pop music. Among them, Brahms' symphonies were played every Sunday at home, so Brahms is probably my home music.

Is there anything that you’d like people to know about your bags or Brigette Tanaka that they might miss?

We would like to continue to actively collaborate with people from all different industries and experiment with the endless possibilities of illustrative embroidery on organdie. So if you wish to collaborate with us please contact us!

On a technical note, as we are often asked if our bags are fragile because the fabric is so delicate to look at--actually this material is actually very strong and can hold up to 8kg!