Forget the Birkin: MAISON de SABRÉ Unveils The Palais

Luxury fashion’s next great icon has arrived, and it doesn’t come from the ateliers of Paris or Milan.

Eight years after reimagining the humble phone case as a luxury object, Australian disruptor MAISON de SABRÉ has unveiled its most ambitious creation yet: The Palais.

The Palais is the brand’s first flagship handbag, a permanent house signature that distils nine of its design codes into a single silhouette. According to Co-Founder and Creative Director Omar Sabré, it is “the most significant milestone in our craft language – an icon of the unconventional.”

Craft, Redefined

Sixteen months of design and six more of material development have delivered a handbag that sets a new standard for contemporary luxury. Each detail, from its sculptural teardrop gusset, first carved in wood, to its floating seam edged with suede, has been engineered with precision.

The bag is crafted from 100% LWG Gold-Rated DriTan™ calf leather, the most premium material the brand has used to date, and lined entirely in sueded leather. MAISON de SABRÉ has committed to a zero-waste ethos, incorporating upcycled accents and trims that marry indulgence with responsibility.

An Investment in Permanence

In a market defined by seasonal trends, The Palais is positioned as a piece of permanence. Built to endure, it has been designed to evolve through attachable charms, eyewear cases, and tech accessories, making it both timeless and adaptive.

The line debuts in two sizes:

Large ($949 AUD) in Cashmere Clay, Pecan Brown, Black Caviar, and Emerald Green

Medium ($749 AUD) in Cashmere Clay, Plum Red, Emerald Green, Black Caviar, Sandstone Brown, and Manhattan Orange

More Than a Bag

Alongside The Palais comes a suite of playful, functional accessories. The Petite Palais Charm, a miniature handbag for your handbag, holds everything from an Apple AirTag to AirPods Pro.

SABRÉMOJI™ Garden Bugs, handcrafted from leather offcuts, nod to nostalgic childhood discoveries, while the Sunglass Sling Case offers sleek utility with its detachable leather sling.

Global Stage, Australian Confidence

MAISON de SABRÉ has built a $100M luxury powerhouse without relying on traditional fashion gatekeeping, and more than 80% of its sales now come from international markets. This September, the brand debuted The Palais at Tokyo’s Miyashita Park alongside Louis Vuitton, Gucci, and Prada, followed by a residency at Paris’s legendary Le Bon Marché.

Co-Founder Zane Sabré puts it bluntly: “Heritage doesn’t guarantee relevance. The Palais proves you don’t need a century of history to create something iconic — you need conviction, execution, and a brand people actually believe in.”

Or, as Omar Sabré quips, “Hermès has the Birkin. We have The Palais. It’s not a comparison, it’s a challenge.”

From late 2026 and into 2027, PONANT Explorations Group will base two ships in French Polynesia, offering travellers a choice between a culturally immersive classic and a far more exploratory deep-Pacific experience.

The move builds on more than 25 years of operating in the region with the iconic m/s Paul Gauguin, while introducing the expedition-focused Le Jacques Cartier to venture into lesser-known waters.

Together, the two vessels will cover all five Polynesian archipelagos — the Society, Tuamotu, Austral, Gambier and Marquesas Islands — as well as the remote Pitcairn Islands.

THE PAUL GAUGUIN: CULTURAL IMMERSION, POLYNESIAN STYLE

Long regarded as the benchmark for cruising in French Polynesia, m/s Paul Gauguin will remain based year-round in the region.

Renovated in 2025, the ship continues to focus on relaxed, culturally rich journeys with extended port stays designed to allow guests to experience daily life across the islands.

A defining feature of the onboard experience is the presence of the Gauguins and Gauguines — Polynesian hosts who share local traditions through music, dance and hands-on workshops, including weaving and craft demonstrations.

The atmosphere is deliberately intimate and internationally minded, catering to travellers seeking depth rather than distance.

Across the 2026–27 seasons, the ship will operate 66 departures, primarily across the Society Islands, Tuamotu and Marquesas, with select voyages extending to Fiji, Tonga and the Cook Islands.

LE JACQUES CARTIER: EXPLORATION AT THE EDGE

Le Jacques Cartier introduces a more adventurous dimension to PONANT’s Polynesian offering, with itineraries focused on the least visited corners of the South Pacific.

The ship will debut three new “Discovery” itineraries, each 14 nights in length, which can also be combined into a single, extended 42-night voyage — the most comprehensive Polynesian itinerary currently available.

In total, the combined journey spans six archipelagos, 23 islands and the Pitcairn Islands, a British Overseas Territory rarely included on cruise itineraries.

Unlike the Paul Gauguin’s cultural focus, Le Jacques Cartier centres on exploration.

Each day includes one guided activity led by local experts, with excursions conducted via tenders, local boats and zodiacs. Scuba diving is available on board, supported by a resident instructor.

Across the 2026–27 period, the ship will operate nine departures, offering a deliberately limited and low-impact presence in some of the Pacific’s most isolated communities.

THREE NEW DISCOVERY ITINERARIES

The new itineraries aboard Le Jacques Cartier include:

– Secret Polynesia: Unexplored Tuamotu, the Gambier Islands and the Austral Islands
– From Confidential French Polynesia to Pitcairn Island
– Polynesian Bliss: Marquesas and Tuamotu

Each voyage departs from Papeete, with prices starting from $15,840 per person.

SCOUTING THE PACIFIC’S MOST REMOTE COMMUNITIES

In preparation for the new itineraries, PONANT Explorations Group undertook extensive scouting across the Austral and Tuamotu Islands to develop activities in collaboration with local communities.

José Sarica, the group’s R&D Expedition Experience Director, worked directly with residents to design experiences including welcome ceremonies, cultural workshops and visits to marae, the region’s sacred open-air temples.

Six new ports of call have been confirmed as part of this process, spanning both the Tuamotu and Austral archipelagos.

SIX NEW PORTS OF CALL CONFIRMED

New stopovers include:

– Mataiva, known for its rare mosaic lagoon
– Hikueru, home to one of the largest lagoons in the Tuamotus
– Makemo, noted for its red-footed boobies and frigatebirds
– Raivavae, famed for its crystal-clear lagoon pools
– Tubuai, rich in marae and spiritual heritage
– Rurutu, known for limestone caves and seasonal humpback whale sightings

A DUAL EXPERIENCE, ONE DESTINATION

By pairing its long-established cultural voyages with expedition-led exploration, PONANT Explorations Group is positioning French Polynesia not as a single experience, but as two distinct journeys — one grounded in tradition and comfort, the other pushing into the furthest reaches of the Pacific.

For travellers seeking either immersion or discovery, the South Pacific is about to feel both familiar and entirely new.