Refocus, regroup, indulge your senses, reconnect with your inner self, with others and with the environment. At Maison&Objet Paris, January 2023 will be all about taking care of each other, of our expertise and of our planet.
From 19 to 23 January, Maison&Objet Paris is set to shine a light on these highly meaningful forward-focused values. The theme “Take Care!” is set to sweep across the entire trade fair, even rippling out to the talks and the trend zones.
The major social, economic and political upheaval we are all currently experiencing is inciting everyone to stand up for their convictions. It is also encouraging brands to be more transparent, inclusive and responsible when reaching out to consumers, who are themselves more invested than ever in the way in which they engage with brands. Now is a time for straight talking, taking action and being open-minded, even if that means beating a drum in order to drive forward,change.
The design on show at Maison&Objet will look to challenge the modern-day aesthetics of what is Beautiful and provide a springboard for what is Good. Taking care is something that has become a veritable necessity at a time when we are all actively seeking meaning and tranquillity. The January edition of Maison&Objet Paris is set to breathe life into something that is now deemed an absolute must.
Above and beyond the increasingly responsible approach being adopted by the trade fair itself (recycling 50% of waste, using more and more LEDs, storing and reusing signage, donating unsold food to the Red Cross, sourcing water locally and turning down the heating), an everincreasing number of exhibitors at Maison&Objet Paris are themselves keen to defend these pivotal values with a view to shaping a desirable and inclusive future.
Maison&Objet’s Four Cornerstones of Care:
1. Taking care of yourself
The January trade fair will encourage visitors to take their time and clear their heads in spaces such as the ‘What’s New?’ trend zone, curated by Elisabeth Leriche and appropriately named “In the air” as an invitation to openly embrace lightheartedness and relaxation. Trend-spotter François Delclaux will encourage us to get onboard with “Slow Hospitality” by whisking us off on a journey that inspires us to take the foot off the accelerator. The soon-to-be-announced “Designer of the Year”, meanwhile, will put together a peaceful and atmospheric space to help us disconnect from the stresses of daily life.
2. Taking care of nature
For a number of years, the trade fair has been awash with up-and-coming socially minded brands, who are proactively embodying a “brand-new ethic that is finding a foothold amongst consumers, echoing the slow living trend”, the trend hunter continues. These include La Fabrique à Sachets, which inspires us to give nature a helping hand by sowing our own seeds, or Dopper, which is highly committed to fighting the good fight against single use plastic bottles with its own attractive, ingenious and sturdy vessels. Knife maker Jean Dubosc, meanwhile, designs pieces whose handles are made from waste plastic that has been collected and recycled in France.
3. Taking care of and showing an interest in others
Maison&Objet tracks down and celebrates hot new talent every single year, and the January edition will place seven Spanish “Rising Talents” firmly in the spotlight, all handpicked from the country’s vast pool of up-and coming talent by some of its more well-established design names. These talents all represent a socially minded generation, with their creations echoing the widespread desire to care for the world around us. Those self-same values are shared by the three design talents that have been invited to be part of the new “Future on Stage” program, which allows recently launched brands to showcase their convictions.
4. Taking care of our heritage and expertise
Young brands and centuries-old firms present at the trade fair are all keen to ensure this valuable heritage gets passed down to future generations. In France, brands such as Drugeot, Delavelle and Sollen are giving French cabinetry a resolutely twenty-first-century spin with collections that flaunt overtly contemporary silhouettes. AS’ART, meanwhile, selects pieces from South Africa, encouraging and promoting traditional expertise with a view to contributing to the socio-economic development of artisan communities.
