IEM

IEM occupies an address in the Marais that regulars have known for decades. It's a shop specializing in leather, fetish wear and what the house calls the alternative lifestyle, more than a run of the mill sex toy shop. People come here as much to dress up as to gear up.

Since 1980

The shop has been around since 1980, making it one of the oldest addresses in the neighborhood on this front. A longevity that has built a solid reputation around expertise in alternative clothing and the welcome extended to the LGBTQ+ community, gay men first and foremost, but also women and couples.

Leather and fetish

The shop's strong suit remains leather and fetish outfits, with pieces you won't find in mainstream stores. Alongside that, you'll also find accessories and sex toys, run more like a destination than a quick sales point.

Access and hours

The shop is located at 16 rue Sainte-Croix-de-la-Bretonnerie, in the 4th arrondissement, a stone's throw from the Hotel-de-Ville station (lines 1 and 11) or accessible by buses 67, 69, 74 and 75. It's open Monday to Thursday from 12pm to 8pm, Friday and Saturday until 9pm, and Sunday as well as public holidays from 2pm to 8pm. The venue is not set up for wheelchair access.

Service and delivery

IEM offers phone consultations Monday to Friday from 10am to 6pm, handy for checking on a size or an item before heading over. The shop also handles express courier delivery, with an announced turnaround of 24 hours for orders placed remotely.

Atmosphere

Reviews describe a respectable establishment, run with seriousness, where the staff know their products well and know how to advise without judgment. It's this professional discretion, combined with the house's long history, that comes up most often in visitor reviews.