Galeries Lafayette
Corporate brand
UnclaimedFrench upmarket department-store brand associated with fashion, luxury, lifestyle products, and the landmark Galeries Lafayette Haussmann in Paris.
Last updated August 21, 2026
AI crawler reads
No AI crawler has read this profile yet.
Overview
Galeries Lafayette is a French upmarket department-store chain whose best-known location is the Galeries Lafayette Haussmann on Boulevard Haussmann in Paris. The business began in 1893, when Théophile Bader and his cousin Alphonse Kahn opened a small shop selling novelty goods at the junction of rue La Fayette and the Chaussée d’Antin. The founders expanded rapidly, acquiring the building at 1 rue La Fayette in 1896 and subsequently assembling the larger Haussmann site. The Paris flagship became the defining expression of the brand. Designed through the work of Georges Chedanne and Ferdinand Chanut, its large glass-and-steel dome and Art Nouveau interiors were completed in the early twentieth century, with the principal inauguration taking place in 1912. The store was later adapted in an Art Deco direction and developed into a major destination for French and international visitors. Its fashion floors, panoramic rooftop, restaurants, cultural programming, seasonal installations, and regular fashion shows make it both a retailer and a tourist landmark. Historically, Galeries Lafayette combined department-store retail with merchandising, manufacturing, design, and cultural promotion. It produced clothing through its own facilities, offered more accessible interpretations of fashionable designs, and added departments covering menswear, furniture, toys, tableware, food, and household goods. In 1922, the company established the Maîtrise decorative-arts workshop under Maurice Dufrêne, producing furniture, textiles, carpets, wallpaper, pottery, and related home products. The store also promoted new designers and hosted exhibitions, including postwar showcases of international manufacturing and fashion events. The company’s history also includes the forced removal of its Jewish owners, administrators, and employees during the Nazi occupation of France. Théophile Bader, Raoul Meyer, Max Heilbronn, and other Jewish stakeholders were dispossessed in an Aryanization process, and control was transferred to non-Jewish interests. This episode is an important part of the brand’s institutional history. In the postwar period, Galeries Lafayette rebuilt and modernized its retail operation. From the 1960s onward it became a platform for emerging ready-to-wear designers, while later designer departments included names such as Jean-Paul Gaultier and Thierry Mugler. Between 1980 and 1999, the chain organized fashion festivals, and Jean-Paul Goude collaborated with the brand on advertising from 2001 to 2015. The brand expanded beyond its historic Paris base through French stores, outlets, franchises, and international partnerships. International locations have included Dubai, Doha, Jakarta, Luxembourg City, Shanghai, Shenzhen, and other markets, while several overseas experiments—including Berlin, New York, London, Singapore, Istanbul, and some Chinese locations—were later closed. In France, the group franchised a number of stores in smaller and medium-sized cities while emphasizing international and online expansion. The chain remains part of Groupe Galeries Lafayette, whose wider portfolio has included retail, fashion, jewelry, watch, and e-commerce businesses. Galeries Lafayette is active and remains one of Europe’s most recognizable premium department-store brands.
History
Galeries Lafayette began in Paris in 1893, when Théophile Bader and Alphonse Kahn established a small novelty-goods shop near rue La Fayette and the Chaussée d’Antin. The founders enlarged the enterprise through property acquisitions, including the building at 1 rue La Fayette in 1896 and additional buildings on Boulevard Haussmann and rue de la Chaussée d’Antin in the early 1900s. This expansion created the physical foundation for the department store that became the company’s emblem. Architect Georges Chedanne led major work, while Ferdinand Chanut designed the celebrated 43-metre dome. The Haussmann store was inaugurated in 1912 and became notable for its glass-and-steel structure, ornamental interiors, dramatic circulation spaces, and later Art Deco adaptations by Pierre Patou. The store’s central Paris location, near the Opéra Garnier and major transport links, helped it develop into both a retail institution and a visitor attraction. Galeries Lafayette broadened its offer beyond fashion. It operated production facilities for private-label clothing, promoted affordable versions of designer styles, and added menswear, furniture, toys, tableware, food, and household departments. In 1922, the Maîtrise workshop under Maurice Dufrêne extended the business into decorative arts, producing furniture, textiles, carpets, wallpaper, ceramics, and other domestic goods. The company also used events and exhibitions to connect retail with design and culture, including a 1919 rooftop landing by aviator Jules Védrines and international manufacturing exhibitions after the Second World War. The occupation period brought a serious rupture. The Jewish founders, administrators, family interests, and many employees were removed through the Nazi-era Aryanization of the business. The property and control associated with the Bader, Meyer, and Heilbronn families were taken and transferred to non-Jewish owners. After the war, the store underwent extensive reconstruction and modernization. During the second half of the twentieth century, the Paris flagship became an important showcase for ready-to-wear and new designers. Laura, later known as Sonia Rykiel, was among the designers whose work gained visibility through the store. Galeries Lafayette organized fashion festivals from 1980 to 1999 and opened a designer department in 1984 featuring designers including Jean-Paul Gaultier and Thierry Mugler. From 2001 to 2015, Jean-Paul Goude worked with the brand on advertising and helped shape a more contemporary visual identity. The chain subsequently pursued a mixed growth model of directly operated stores, international partnerships, outlets, and French franchises. Overseas openings included Dubai, Jakarta, Doha, Shanghai, Shenzhen, and Luxembourg City, while stores in several other countries were closed after experiments of varying duration. The wider Groupe Galeries Lafayette has also owned or operated other retail and fashion businesses, including La Redoute, Louis Pion, Nouvelles Galeries, and Galeries Lafayette–Royal Quartz Paris. Galeries Lafayette remains active, with the Haussmann flagship continuing to anchor the brand’s international reputation.
- 2025
Franchise restructuring
[1]The group ends its agreement with Société des Grands Magasins after the franchisee brings Shein into several Galeries Lafayette stores.
- 2023
Shenzhen store opens
[1]Galeries Lafayette opens a store at Shenzhen’s UpperHills development.
- 2019
Doha, Luxembourg City, and Shanghai expansion
[1]The chain adds locations in Doha, Luxembourg City, and Shanghai through local partnerships.
- 2009
Dubai expansion
[1]A store opens at The Dubai Mall.
- 1984
Designer department opens
[1]A dedicated designer department features names including Jean-Paul Gaultier and Thierry Mugler.
- 1960
Joins the International Association of Department Stores
[1]Galeries Lafayette becomes a member of the International Association of Department Stores.
- 1922
Maîtrise decorative-arts workshop established
[1]Maurice Dufrêne directs a workshop producing affordable furniture, textiles, carpets, wallpaper, pottery, and other home products.
- 1912
Haussmann flagship inaugurated
[1]The major Boulevard Haussmann store opens with its landmark dome and grand interior architecture.
- 1896
First major property expansion
[1]The company acquires the entire building at 1 rue La Fayette.
- 1893
Founding Paris shop opens
[1]Théophile Bader and Alphonse Kahn open a small novelty-goods store near rue La Fayette and the Chaussée d’Antin.
Products and positioning
Upmarket department store combining accessible luxury, designer fashion, tourism, hospitality, and cultural retail experiences.
Apparel · 1893
Fashion
The core offer spans women’s and men’s ready-to-wear, designer collections, accessories, and selected haute couture. Galeries Lafayette combines premium and luxury labels with more accessible fashion, using its flagship stores as curated showcases for established and emerging designers.
Beauty
Beauty and cosmetics
Beauty departments complement the fashion business with cosmetics, fragrance, skincare, and related services. They contribute to the department-store model by bringing together luxury, premium, and everyday beauty brands in a high-service retail environment.
Homeware · 1922
Home and decorative arts
The brand has long sold furniture, tableware, textiles, carpets, wallpaper, pottery, and other household products. The historic Maîtrise workshop, founded in 1922, formalized the company’s involvement in decorative arts and affordable design.
Food and beverage
Food and hospitality
The Haussmann flagship includes food-tasting areas, cafés, bars, restaurants, and rooftop dining. The food offer combines French specialties with products from international cuisines and supports the store’s role as a destination rather than only a transactional retailer.
Controversies
2025
Franchise dispute over Shein presence
Galeries Lafayette terminated its franchise agreement with Société des Grands Magasins after Shein was introduced into stores operated by the franchisee, leading to rebranding of several locations.
1940
Aryanization during the Nazi occupation
During the German occupation of France, Jewish owners and administrators, including Théophile Bader, Raoul Meyer, and Max Heilbronn, were forced out, Jewish employees were dismissed, and family property and control were transferred to non-Jewish interests.
Marketing campaigns
- 2001Jean-Paul Goude advertising collaboration
France · International
Jean-Paul Goude collaborated with Galeries Lafayette on advertising campaigns from 2001 to 2015, helping the department store develop a more modern and recognizable visual identity.
Outcome. Long-running brand-image collaboration.
- 1976Suspended Christmas tree tradition
France
Galeries Lafayette began presenting a large Christmas tree suspended beneath the Haussmann store’s dome, creating an annual seasonal attraction.
Outcome. Became a recurring Paris flagship tradition.
Brand decisions
2025
Termination of Société des Grands Magasins franchise agreementStrategyBackground
Société des Grands Magasins introduced online fast-fashion retailer Shein into stores operating under the Galeries Lafayette name.
Action taken
Galeries Lafayette ended the franchise agreement.
Aftermath
Stores in Angers, Dijon, Grenoble, Le Mans, Limoges, Orléans, and Reims were rebranded as BHV.
2018
French regional stores converted to franchisesStrategyBackground
The group sought to concentrate resources on international growth and online retail while changing the operating model for stores in smaller and medium-sized French cities.
Action taken
Twenty-two stores were converted to franchises and sold to Financière Immobilière Bordelaise.
Aftermath
The move was followed by further franchise transfers and changes in the group’s French store network.
Recent events
Reported
Luxair opens a pop-up store at Galeries Lafayette[3]
Luxair opened a pop-up store at Galeries Lafayette in Luxembourg, offering branded airline merchandise from 3 December until mid-March 2022.
Reported
Galeries Lafayette appoints Sandra Weber as strategy and development director[4]
Galeries Lafayette Group appointed Sandra Weber as strategy and development director, succeeding Olivier Bron.
- Unconfirmed
Reported
The Alkemistry launches its first Middle East pop-up[5]
The Alkemistry launched its first pop-up in the Middle East, at Galeries Lafayette in Doha, Qatar. The pop-up was due to operate from November and feature new designs and pieces exclusive to the Middle East market.
Reported
Galeries Lafayette announces plans for a third China store[6]
Galeries Lafayette said it had signed a lease for a third store in China, which it planned to open in 2022.
Reported
Galeries Lafayette launches Exclusive Live Shopping[7]
Galeries Lafayette on Boulevard Haussmann launched Exclusive Live Shopping, an online shopping service guided by live video conference with a Galeries Lafayette adviser or personal shopper.
Sources7 sources
- 1Galeries Lafayetteen.wikipedia.org
- 2Galeries Lafayette official websitegalerieslafayette.com
- 3Luxair在Galeries Lafayette开设快闪店ftnnews.com
- 4老佛爷百货集团任命Sandra Weber为战略与发展总监fashion.sina.com.cn
- 5The Alkemistry在中东开设首个快闪店fashionunited.uk
- 6Galeries Lafayette宣布计划在中国开设第三家门店finance.yahoo.com
- 7Galeries Lafayette 推出 Exclusive Live Shoppingsortiraparis.com
Cite this profile: Cite the canonical profile. /brand-wiki/galeries-lafayette · Editorial policy · How profiles are compiled