vibrant façades + eclectic ornamentation tell the story of paris through its storefronts

while many tourists become bewitched by the elegance of the eiffel tower or the popular louvre pyramid, the beauty of paris surpasses its landmark museums and magnificent monuments. throughout the city, young designers, craftsmen, foodies, music addicts, barbers, dry cleaners and restauranteurs open their doors to the public, proudly presenting their business to locals and foreigners alike. these workshops, laboratories, boulangeries and boutiques each display a unique ‘savoir faire’ that adds a creative and surprising spark to everyday life. 

‘paris re-tale’
video by pablo apiolazza

luc fracheboud and his father patrick at the front door of their historic restaurant

pixartprinting has collaborated with photographer sebastian erras to produce the series ‘paris re-tale’, a project which tells the story of the french capital through its storefronts. the project continues pixartprinting’s study of shops —  previously, the online printing brand took to the streets of milan with photographer marco valmarana in pursuit of relaying the city through the voices of its inhabitants.

now in paris, erras captures the vibrant façades, eclectic window displays, vintage signage and ornate decorative details seen across the city’s storefronts. pictured before each commercial space is its owner, proudly presenting his or her universe of items for sale — whether they be puppets, pastries, books or baguettes. see more images from the series, and stories of each shop and its owner here.

alexandre boyer, surrounded by pictures and posters from the history of cinema

dave kouliche, welcoming visitors at his vinyl records shop

nathalie felber stands in front of the dry cleaner’s created by her great grandfather

alain, at the door of his barber shop, the most famous in paris

chef christophe duparay in front of his restaurant

boris lumé, standing proudly at the entrance of his picturesque bakery-confectionery

bernard poussin (left) and diane junique (right) in front of their two-centuries-old chocolaterie

vanessa jacquiot, sales and marketing manager of the boutique hotel that was once paris’s oldest bakery

maxime hubert, at the entrance of the reference jazz music shop in paris

dorothée hoffmann never takes off her apron when she is at her ceramics workshop

stefan perrier, in front of what looks like a hat shop, but is in fact a leading art bookshop

gilles berthommier and one of his puppets at the door of his workshop

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