196 Flags Made of Recycled Textiles to Fly at Place de la Bastille During Paris Design Week

Designers Claire Renard and Jean-Sébastien Blanc, co-founders of the studio 5.5, will present a monumental installation titled "La Re-prise de la Bastille" at Place de la Bastille in Paris from September 9 to 20, 2026. The installation features 196 flags—representing the 195 UN member and observer states plus a white flag—mounted on six-meter-high bamboo poles around the July Column. Each flag is handcrafted from used clothing collected by partners of Refashion, including the ressourcerie Vosges TLC. The designers studied each country's textile traditions to create unique patchworks, with the French flag incorporating a workman's blue, a chef's white blouse, a Chanel-style white suit piece, and a red Air France blanket. The project, in partnership with the Festival du Monde and Refashion, aims to promote sustainable fashion and raise awareness about textile recycling. The flags will be auctioned on Drouot.com from September 9 to 20. Refashion is a non-profit eco-organization approved by the French ministries of ecology and economy, funded by brands and manufacturers through eco-contributions. The installation coincides with Paris Design Week (September 10-19, 2026) and the 12th edition of the Festival du Monde (September 17-20), which focuses on women's rights. Renard and Blanc have designed the festival's scenography for four years, using 100% reclaimed materials from printing waste.