Kobi Halperin Readies to Show Signature Line in Paris

As the creative director for women’s at Ungaro, Kobi Halperin is no stranger to Paris but soon he will be showing his signature label there for the first time.

That unveiling will take place Friday at the Hôtel de Maisons, a Left Bank manse that he first toured seven months ago with one of the owners whose family has been tied to the location for many years. His spring 2026 collection “Nouveau Depart” draws from the hotel’s architecture and celebrates his New York City-based brand’s 10th anniversary. “As soon as I walked into this location, I realized I didn’t want it just as a venue, I wanted it as inspiration for the space,” he said.

“As a designer, we always have this pressure of finding inspiration. You are always looking for a magical moment that gives you a spike to start a story,” he said. Hôtel de Maisons’ “amazing garden, where you feel like you are in paradise in the middle of Paris. You can hear the birds [singing] and see these amazing things in the center of Paris fit the bill.”

The experience conjured up images of Eden for the designer, who mused that Adam and Eve led to the beginning of fashion, since “part of their punishment” required they get dressed. Halperin said, “Fashion is a punishment, but I refuse to think of it that way. Fashon is magical. You can know much more about a person, when they’re dressed than when they’re naked.”

Halperin described his spring collection as “smart luxury” that consists of “beautiful,” feminine clothes — dresses, blouses, leather pieces, tailored looks and swimwear. Some of the designs are made with botanical prints, and snake motifs with the aim being to show a new beginning. “You can’t take away the challenges that we went through, but it’s a new morning,” he said. “For me, this is a beautiful way to take an inspiration and bring it back to where it started.”

Eager to expand internationally, he said, “There is no better place to do that than in Paris. I also wanted to add some new categories for the brand.”

Halperin presented his fall 2025 collection at The Canvas store last month in New York. His spring assortment will include shoes with Maison Ernest Paris and jewelry with Deepa Gurnani through collaborations. With distribution in about 150 stores including Saks Fifth Avenue, Neiman Marcus and Bloomingdale’s, the company generates more than $10 million in annual sales. His namesake company’s average retail price point is $500, and some runway pieces can be upward of $1,000. He said 150 stores currently carry his label within the U.S. accounting for most of its base. Suggesting there is a white space in the market for opening price point for designer goods, he is eager to expand internationally.

Accustomed to creating all of his prints, fabrics and embroidery, Halperin aims to make customers feel good about spending the money for his clothes. “My approach is to buy less, but to buy good quality clothes that will stay with you through the years and that you will enjoy wearing,” he said.

The designer said he prefers not to define his customers by an age range or by their income. From his perspective, “sometimes in fashion, we’re making our customers feel not loved,” he said. “You know? It’s like she’s not cool enough. She’s not young enough. She’s not skinny enough. She’s not rich enough,” Halperin said. “I’m very excited to be showing in Paris, which is the temple of fashion.”

Routinely in the stores connecting with customers, he said, “Making women feel beautiful is my biggest inspiration. That’s why I enjoy so much being in our stores and with our customers. That is spreading this message of hope and unity. And that’s what I’m planning to show in Paris as well.”

Once his spring collection is officially launched, Halperin has another date inked in to his calendar — an Oct. 6 press day for Ungaro in Paris. As for a Puck report that Law Roach is lining up a team of investors to buy Ungaro, Halperin declined to comment. Representatives for Roach did not respond to requests for comment.