Overview
- Comité Colbert opened “Hidden Treasures, 250 Years of Franco‑American Luxury Stories” at The Shed, a limited‑run exhibition running May 26–31 that features objects from 65 French maisons and scheduled private morning sessions for VIP clients.
- The show includes marquee archival loans such as an original Hermès Kelly bag, Louis Vuitton trunks and Jacqueline Kennedy’s Givenchy coat, which brands say illustrate craftsmanship and the long cultural links with the United States.
- Luxury groups have pointed to the U.S. as their chief growth market in early 2026, with reported Q1 U.S. revenue gains including LVMH (+3%), Kering (+9%), Hermès (+17.2%) and Richemont (+18%).
- Houses are using the exhibition as cultural diplomacy and clienteling rather than direct selling while also accelerating U.S. retail investments through mega‑flagships, targeted smaller stores and U.S. runway shows in response to a shrinking department store landscape.
- Executives warn that this U.S. pivot could be fragile because a deeper Middle East conflict, a weaker China recovery or broader economic shocks would likely slow demand, and Comité Colbert’s survey of 600 U.S. buyers found 61% still view French products as worth buying.