After years of international acclaim and a career that has spanned New York, Paris, and San Miguel de Allende, multidisciplinary designer Isabelle Manhes is returning to Mexico City to open Maison Manhes, her private showroom in the heart of Polanco.
Born in Bogotá to a French father and a Mexican mother, Manhes grew up straddling cultures. A graduate of Parsons School of Design and a former collaborator of Marc Jacobs, she has developed a career that seamlessly blends haute couture, performance, illustration, and costume design. Her creations have appeared on fashion week runways, in museum collections, and on film sets, always grounded in a commitment to craftsmanship and storytelling.
Rewriting the Narrative
“What inspired me to return is that Mexico City is a Mecca of creativity right now,” says Manhes. “It’s an opportunity for me to reload my narrative.” After years of dressing clients and running a storefront in San Miguel de Allende, the designer felt a pull to reconnect with the pulse of the capital. Her new space, Maison Manhes, is not a boutique, but a creative salon—appointment-only and deeply personal.
An Immersive Experience
To mark this new chapter, Manhes is inviting a select audience to a one-night-only experience on May 21st at Goldsmith 26-C, Polanco. The evening will include the premiere of the short documentary Maison Manhes, a live opera performance of Sed de Mar by Esther Seligson interpreted by Jacinta Barbachano, and a preview of the new Maison Manhes collection. Guests will enjoy artisanal canapés in an atmosphere designed to awaken the senses.
This event marks the launch of a series of curated experiences that will take place throughout the year in her new space. “There will be three or four experiences like this per year,” she explains. “One-of-a-kind events with food, drinks, and a show, —you’ll be blown away.”
A Cultural Space, Not Just a Store
For Manhes, fashion is more than what we wear—it’s a language, a ritual, a way to elevate the soul. Her new showroom will act as a cultural hub for dialogue and connection. The first theme she’s exploring? Penelope—a reference to the mythological figure who wove and unwove her tapestry while waiting for her beloved. “It speaks to the act of creation, the process of waiting, and the personal journey of self-discovery,” she says.
She’s also collaborating with an eclectic roster of artists, including dancer Claudia Llanos. “Anyone with the commitment to beauty, from a hairdresser to an opera singer, can be part of this story,” Manhes says.
The Soul of Mexican Fashion
Asked about the state of Mexican fashion, Manhes is clear: “It’s time to rescue color, and to keep exploring our ancestral techniques. Mexican fashion is born from necessity, ritual, and regional identity—it’s not a trend, it’s a legacy.”
Maison Manhes is more than a return to the city—it’s a call to reconnect with fashion’s deeper purpose: to express, to explore, and to transform.
Maison Manhes
Wednesday, May 21, 20:00 pm
Goldsmith 26-C, Polanco
RSVP: Maison Manhes +52 5530588180
