The prestigious lifestyle and design trade show, Maison et Objet Paris returns for yet again another exciting edition full of innovative surprises and high-quality design. During the next couple of weeks, Paris Design Agenda will be featuring a series of articles related to some of the major highlights of the event. We start off with the inspirations theme which this year will be “Excuse My French”.
Vincent Grégoire from NellyRodi will once again oversee this highly inspiring space. The designer has analysed the latest consumer trends and sociological phenomena and has encapsulated them in a theme, it may seem that it has a humorous character but it actually looks seriously upon the re-emergence of the country of Molière on the international scene. According to Vincent Grégoire from NellyRodi, everything revolving Frapossessesess a certain je ne sais quoi — that indescribable Gallic quality that exudes an easy allure, an effortlessly chic and a distinctive sense of style.
“There’s a renewed curiosity about the French abroad, a sort of fascination at the moment. In a world where things are becoming standardized, people are looking for something different. When I’m abroad, I’m always told that we have a certain je ne sais quoi, an effortless chic, something you don’t find anywhere else.” – Vincent Gregoire.
Foreign visitors will be given the opportunity to discover new French brands and designers, while others will better understand how to take full advantage of the Made in France phenomenon.
France has long been a worldwide reference for the arts, fashion, design and lifestyle. For many, it is quite simply the epitome of elegance. Grégoire pinpoints a number of factors responsible for the country’s new-found resurgence. Leading the way are a whole host of smaller companies – Petites Maisons, who reinterpret traditional savoir-faire with product lines characterized by a spirit of invention and exclusivity. A “nouvelle vague” of creatives open to multicultural influences have also emerged. They shake up traditional French chic by injecting inspirations from elsewhere in a new mood of fusion and mix ‘n’ match.
The importance of the French tech industry should not be underestimated either. Paris is home to the world’s largest start-up campus, Station F, and Gallic firms are leading players in fields of new technology that are bringing revolutionary changes in the home. The design world, meanwhile, is full of figures whose style could be best described as “Classic With A Twist”. They bring with them a typically French note of irreverence and daring, a quirkiness and extravagance, which endow their work with an original touch.
All of these threads will be brought together in January 2019 at the Trend Forum, a 250 sq. m space in Hall 7 that will present a selection of products embodying the essence of the new French scene. Its theatrical decor will be inspired by the Hall of Mirrors at Versailles, but with a little impertinence mixed in. A small truck where you will be able to find the trend mook for sale will be parked in the middle of it and a number of contemporary items will deliberately contrast with the classical setting. “There will be disruptive, dissonant elements and a spirit of contradiction”, promises Grégoire. “They’re an integral part of that je ne sais quoi”.
Source: Maison et Objet Paris
