Brigitte Tanaka Eglise Saint Roche Pocket Book Pouch

A small book dedicated to one of Paris’s great artists’ churches, except this one opens with a zip. Brigitte Tanaka’s Saint-Roch Pocket Book recreates an old paperback in sheer white organza, printed with a wonderfully faded photograph of the Église Saint-Roch and embroidered with St Roch, gardian des artistes across the cover.

The title has a story behind it. Saint-Roch, on Rue Saint-Honoré, has been associated with artists for centuries, with painters, sculptors, writers and other figures from French cultural life buried or commemorated there. It became known as the artists’ parish – hence Brigitte Tanaka’s guardian of the artists.

The pouch itself has all the little details of a book you might pick up in Paris: the washed-out photograph, dark blue title, Brigitte Tanaka as the author and even a tiny barcode embroidered at the bottom.

A lovely Paris souvenir that’s far removed from the usual Eiffel Towers, and a useful little zipped pouch for jewellery, make-up, cables and other small essentials.