Nimette Opens Private Salon Dedicated to Japanese Designers

Hidden six floors above the Balenciaga flagship on Rue Saint-Honoré, Le Salon Nimette is Paris‘ newest — and most discreet — destination for Japanese fashion.

The private salon is the brainchild of Nima Krings to bring a curated collection of independent Japanese designers to the French capital.

Enter Le Salon Nimette, her new showroom and shopping space, which quietly opened at 336 Rue Saint-Honoré in May. The private boutique introduces a selection of rare, hand-selected designers, many discovered during her travels to Japan.

That journey began when her husband, Pierre, sold the company he cofounded, Priceminister, to Japanese e-commerce giant Rakuten. Spending time in the country, Krings developed an admiration for Japanese fashion and craftsmanship.

Krings launched Nimette as an online shop in October 2023. But the desire to offer something tactile and intimate led her to the physical space. It aligns with the growing importance of experiential shopping, where clients seek storytelling and personal connection.

When her husband’s new company, the private equity firm Kernel, vacated its offices, Krings knew what she had to do.

“I saw the opportunity and said, ‘I want to make this my baby.’ I wanted to create a space where people could come, where stories could be told. It’s elegant, chic, but also simple and not overdone. I wanted it to reflect who I am. We also wanted the clothes to stand out. The space had to be clean and calming so visitors can relax and absorb the stories behind the items,” Krings told WWD.

She transformed the space from a bland office into an elevated fashion cloud, a minimalist, light-filled cocoon complete with a terrace for enjoying the view.

Inside, pieces for both men and women span Japanese designers including Anrealage and Taakk, who show on the Paris Fashion Week official calendar; indies including Akiko Aoki, Fumie Tanaka, Papier Formel and Postelegant, among others, as well as select vintage pieces from designers such as Comme des Garçons.

“I wanted to introduce the designers and their craftsmanship in a physical space that tells their stories, in a Parisian setting,” she said. “I wanted to bring their exceptional craftsmanship and quality here, especially lesser-known labels that aren’t available in France.”

“What I love is that people can share their stories, their culture, their local expertise and we get to benefit from that, so every garment comes with meaning,” she said, recalling her childhood in Guinea, where artisans made clothing locally.

Renovating a centuries-old apartment in Paris with architect Pierre Yovanovitch reinforced her believe in the importance of craftsmanship. “It made me realize this is what I want in life — to work with people who really know their craft,” she said.

She designed Le Salon in collaboration with architect Marie-Anne Derville, and the interior is a study in serenity. “Everything was done from scratch,” Krings said. Even the paint is a custom shade by French studio Mériguet.

Part of what makes Le Salon unique is its confidential address. “People don’t come here by accident, they come because they’re curious and want to be part of this little cocoon, this different kind of world,” said Krings.

That cocoon is curated not just in product but also experience, led by style curator Melissa Gaudron, who manages the showroom and Krings whom calls a fashion “fairy.” Gaudron speaks with, then proposes a selection for customers.

“Sometimes people discover a new look they never would’ve dared to try,” she added of the process.

Her mission is to create a more sustainable and considered kind of fashion experience outside of the creative churn of mass luxury. “We’re tired of everyone dressing the same. In today’s fashion industry, we don’t even know who the designer is anymore — the creative director changes constantly. People want to return to meaning: to know what they’re wearing, why, and where it came from. Just like we care about what we eat, we should care how our clothes are made,” she said.

Some of the designers Krings champions are little known. Osakentaro creates his pieces inside a traditional Minka home in Japan, stitching each pair of pants on an ancient sewing machine. “He thinks deeply about every piece, like a biologist in a lab. It’s moving. When one of his bags sells, I’m so happy for him,” said Krings.

Japanese brands often struggle to find their footing in the crowded Paris market, she said. Le Salon Nimette aims to offer them space and attention.

“Japanese brands aren’t always well-represented when they come here. It’s hard for them to get visibility. We want to give them that platform in Paris. When someone has talent, I want to give them this beautiful space to express it. It’s very difficult today — there’s so much noise that no one sees anything anymore, neither the customer nor the designer,” she said. “We’re here to build relationships and trust between the client and the creator.”

Krings returns to Japan four or five times a year to select pieces and seek out new designers.

The space also has pieces from Mongolia, and Krings wants to explore other countries where they produce locally such as Brazil, South Korea and various locations in Africa. Her aesthetic isn’t confined to one style, but the ethos remains that all products are produced locally wherever they are from.

“The goal is to discover real craftsmanship from all over the world. The idea is not ‘Made in Japan’ or ‘Made in France,’ but ‘Made locally’ — whether in Japan or elsewhere,” she added.

The confidentiality of Le Salon may suggest something unattainable, but Krings is quick to counter that suggestion. VICs may have access to private salons due to high spend with brands, but Krings wants the experience in her salon to welcome those interested in design and culture. “Anyone can come in here and feel very well taken care of no matter who they are, in a prime location in Paris. And it’s the same for the brands. I think the last thing they could ever imagine is that their pieces would be in Paris, in a place like this. It’s unattainable for 99 percent of them.”

So far, the boutique is such quiet luxury it is a whisper — only word of mouth through friends and an in-the-know fashion crowd, and operates on an appointment-only basis. Krings plans to host a slate of events including dinners, cocktails and meet-the-designer moments throughout the year. A soft opening was curated by We Are Ona, and Krings plans a long-term collaboration with the experiential dining designers. Nimette will also host a larger event during Paris Fashion Week in September.