Universal Works Toulouse.

We have just opened our first stand-alone Universal Works in Toulouse, France.

The shop is a Partnership Store with our friends at Mr Sunbell Store, whose existing space in Toulouse has allowed us to build a strong and growing community in the city over recent years. Over time, it became clear that Toulouse was the right place for a dedicated Universal Works space. The opportunity was already there, and this partnership made it possible. In many ways, Toulouse chose us, and we were happy to say yes.

A Partnership Store is one of the ways we expand into new towns and cities around the world, each one shaped by its surroundings and built with the help of trusted friends and partners. It allows us to become part of a place properly, rather than just arrive in it.

Our Co-Founder David Keyte explains it simply: “Our partnerships mean the local stockist can really feel ownership, while we can offer a bigger and better choice for the customers we know we have in that city. For me, it really is a partnership in the true sense of the word.”

The shop is located on Rue Temponières in the historic centre of the city, a neighbourhood full of history and character. As Mr Sunbell Store Founder Jérôme Biaggi explains, “This neighbourhood used to be the heart of workwear production workshops. Then it became an area for second-hand and vintage stores. Today it’s a neighbourhood of independent retailers, in fashion and in food.”

Inside, the space brings together the utilitarian language you might recognise from our other shops, but set within the framework of a traditional Toulouse building. Wooden beams, floors and counters and the softness of aged plaster walls sit alongside the industrial details our shops have become known for, like the UW green steel rails built from scaffold poles, exposed fittings and simple, practical fixtures. A glass brick ceiling at the back brings soft, dappled light into the space. Some of the furniture, including the small green benches, was sourced from local flea markets, so the shop feels like it has grown over time rather than arrived all at once.

Outside, a green striped awning, reminiscent of a traditional grocer or bookshop, carries both our name and Sunbell’s. In the window, a moving neon sign brings the two names together, a small detail that says a lot about what this place is and how it came to be.

For Mr Sunbell’s Jérôme, the project reflects a shared way of working: “After 30 years in the fashion business, I prioritise human relationships. With Universal Works, the human factor is at the centre of the business.”

If you find yourself in Toulouse, you will now find us there too.