Don’t Miss this Free Fashion Exhibit at Europa Expérience

Published: 26 September 2025 by Bonjour Paris Editors

Did you know that there’s a cool interactive space in Paris where you can learn all about Europe? Created by the European Parliament, the Europa Expérience, situated at 28 place de la Madeleine, is a free multimedia space complete with a 360° cinema. Here you can admire maps, immerse yourself in European history, and learn how the European Union works; there’s even a game area where you can play the role of an MEP for a few hours (reservation required). Open every day (except Sunday) from 10 am- 6 pm, Europa Expérience also stages interesting temporary exhibitions.

Sweden, Bea Szenfeld

Case in point: the buzzed-about fashion exhibit on upcycled fashion and European textile legislation, featuring 28 designers from each country of the European Union, as well as a Ukrainian designer as a guest of honor. Taking place from October 1 – October 31 to coincide with Paris Fashion Week S/S 2026, the exhibit will show off sustainable fashion and the creativity of upcycling techniques, while informing visitors about the important steps being taken to regulate fast fashion and the textile industry in Europe. Consumers are increasingly troubled by the massive environmental impact of fast fashion, so this exhibit couldn’t be more timely and important.

Belgium, Julie Menuge. Photo: Laetitia Bica

The designers are an inspiring bunch. Some are stylists who have dressed celebrities, some get rave reviews for their upcycled wedding dresses, some nab prestigious awards and show their pieces at the MET in New York.

And then there’s designer Ronald van der Kemp, whose creations are featured on haute couture runways — his Dutch brand RDVK was launched in 2014 with the tagline “new ethics in luxury fashion.” Recognized by the Fédération de la Haute Couture et de la Mode as the world’s first ethical couture brand, RDVK is invited to show at the official couture week in Paris.

Ronald van der Kemp, RVDK, Fashion Week 25, runway look

Here’s a sampling of the other award-winning participants:

-Representing Belgium, Julie Menuge has created theater costumes, embroidered pieces for haute-couture labels, and exhibited in fine museums.
-Representing France, Geralda Barros holds a master’s degree in sustainable fashion and collaborates with major luxury houses.
-Representing Germany, Talbot Runhof x Bellevue Collection made a bold statement before the European Elections 2024 with a dress incorporating fragments of various European flags, emblazoned with the message “Vote.”
-Representing Finland, Sofia Ilmonen explores modular transformable design as a means to sustainability.
-Representing Czechia, Mimi Lan Nguyen Hoang started upcyling back in 2000- before the term even existed- by sourcing vintage clothes in secondhand shops.