Flying Flea, Royal Enfield's electric motorcycle brand, is making its public debut with a three-day Open House event at École Duperré during Paris Design Week 2025. The event, scheduled for September 5-7, 2025, transforms the renowned French design school into a creative hub featuring art installations, masterclasses, live panel discussions, and rooftop evening events. The initiative brings together artists, students, designers, and Flying Flea leadership to explore the intersection of urban mobility, art, and design.
The centerpiece of the event is located in École Duperré's central courtyard, where artist Mattia Biagi has curated an immersive installation called "Motototem." This unique sculptural reinterpretation of Flying Flea's FF.C6 motorcycle incorporates premium materials including travertine, bronze, walnut, clay, and hand-blown glass. The artwork symbolizes movement, resilience, and creativity while transforming the motorcycle into a piece of contemporary art. Surrounding the installation, furniture pieces by Molo Design create flexible, intimate environments where visitors can reflect, interact, and experience handcrafted single- and dual-seat FF.C6 motorcycles.
Flying Flea represents a modern evolution of urban mobility, combining advanced electric technology with timeless aesthetic design and rich cultural storytelling. The brand draws its inspiration from the original 1940s Royal Enfield Flying Flea, which was specifically designed to be air-dropped by parachute during World War II. This historical connection serves as a powerful symbol of lightness, agility, and freedom that continues to influence the brand's identity today.
The FF.C6, Flying Flea's flagship public debut model, was first unveiled in Milan in 2024 and represents a sophisticated merger of engineering innovation and classic design principles. The motorcycle features precision-forged aluminum construction, connected digital interfaces, and proprietary in-house battery technology. This combination of cutting-edge electric mobility solutions with traditional craftsmanship reflects the brand's commitment to both technological advancement and aesthetic excellence.
Throughout the weekend event, student artists from École Duperré are showcasing their creative interpretations of the Flying Flea concept. Johan, one of the featured student artists, is performing live painting sessions that capture the spirit and energy of Flying Flea motorcycles in real time. Meanwhile, Sara has created a striking parachute installation that envelops a Flying Flea bike, serving as a direct homage to the brand's wartime origins and historical significance. These student projects highlight Flying Flea's core ethos of lightness, creativity, and cultural connectivity while bridging historical legacy with forward-thinking contemporary design.
The event's programming includes an extensive series of live talks and panel discussions hosted by Laurianne Melierre, featuring voices from across the creative spectrum. Mattia Biagi will discuss his artistic vision and creative process behind the Motototem installation, while student artists Johan and Sara will share the inspirations and concepts behind their respective projects. Additionally, masterclasses led by Flying Flea's leadership team offer attendees insights into the brand's design philosophy, engineering breakthroughs, and strategic plans for future electric motorcycle models.
A notable highlight of the programming includes designboom's participation, featuring a special radio talk with Editor-in-Chief Sofia Lekka Angelopoulou. The rooftop of École Duperré serves as the venue for evening panel discussions and music sessions, creating an elevated space for dialogue, celebration, and networking against the backdrop of panoramic views of the Paris skyline. This rooftop setting provides a fitting metaphor for Flying Flea's ambitious vision to look outward toward the future while remaining firmly rooted in authenticity and cultural heritage.
Paris Design Week provides an ideal platform for Flying Flea's creative ambitions, allowing the public to experience how art, design, and urban mobility can engage in meaningful conversation. The choice of École Duperré, one of France's most prestigious design institutions, as the event hub facilitates collaboration between students, faculty, and international artists on both installations and intellectual discussions. Through this Open House event, Flying Flea positions itself not merely as a vehicle manufacturer, but as a comprehensive cultural platform dedicated to self-expression, innovation, and the exploration of how mobility can enhance urban life and creative expression.
