Why LVMH Is Investing in a Thousand-Year-Old Japanese Paper

For over a millennium, Washi has been an essential material in Japan. The traditional paper has a history woven into calligraphy, architecture, and design. This week, that same material is the focus of an exhibition in Paris, hosted by LVMH Métiers d’Art at its dedicated space, La Main.

The exhibition, titled “Japanese Métiers d’Art - Celebrating the Artisanal Excellence of Japan,” runs from May 28 to June 3, 2026. While open primarily to professionals, a single day on May 30 was dedicated to the general public. Inside, a selection of works reveals the diversity of Washi, from its use in fashion and textiles to objects and interiors.

The event highlights a dialogue between ancestral techniques and contemporary applications, showing how artisans, artists, and workshops are integrating rare gestures into the present.

A Deeper Connection

This exhibition is part of a wider initiative. In 2022, LVMH Métiers d’Art established an antenna in Japan specifically to strengthen ties with local craft actors. The goal is to support the transmission and visibility of their skills among the group's Maisons. With the support of the Kyoto Prefecture, this new show brings together artisans from the Tango region and other territories linked to Kyoto, demonstrating how Washi can be reinvented.

The presentation features works by Horiki Eriko, a major figure in the contemporary expression of Washi. It also includes creations by young talents from a competition organized by the KOGEI ARTISTS LEAGUE, an initiative that supports the next generation of artisans.

The Logic of Savoir-Faire

The strategy is articulated by Yves Cauchon, the Director of LVMH Métiers d’Art. “Through this exhibition, we wish to highlight the diversity of the savoir-faire related to Washi and show how much this ancestral material continues to inspire contemporary creation,” he stated. “Preserving these traditions, while supporting their evolution, is at the heart of our approach.”

This is not the first time LVMH has focused on Japanese craftsmanship. Two previous exhibitions have already been organized under this dynamic. “Ambient Weaving,” designed with the textile house Hosoo, focused on innovative silk weaving techniques. Another edition of “Japanese Métiers d’Art” was dedicated to Japanese denim, highlighting the work of anime and multimedia artist Shu Yonezawa.

Between unique pieces, material experiments, and more industrial applications, the exhibition offers a sensitive and contemporary look at the creative power of Japanese métiers d’art.

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