At any given time, Paris has a myriad of monikers. Romantics call it the City of Love, while discerning tourists might go with the City of Light. Some foodies might associate the metropolis with its escargot and croissants. However, come the beginning of the year, the city becomes the epicenter of design with Paris Déco Off. From January 14 through January 17, over 150 brands opened their showrooms to share new collections, special collaborations, and crowd-pleasing favorites. Below, the best things the aspire team spotted during the festivities.
Zinc Textile
Zinc Textile, a division of The Romo Group, partnered with Antwerp-based studio Dieter Vander Velpen Architects to launch A Dialogue Between Disciplines. The six-collection endeavor uses rich materials to reenvision the rhythm and character of natural materials like travertine, marble, and wood—blurring the lines between architecture and upholstery. “It’s a true exploration of how textiles can help shape a space, blurring the boundary between softness and structure and ultimately becoming an architectural language in their own right,” explains Emily Mould, The Romo Group’s creative director.
Little Greene
As Little Greene’s sixth wallpaper collection, created in partnership with the National Trust, In the Garden draws inspiration from gardens of all shapes and sizes. “It captures the essence of historic gardens and wild landscapes, reflecting our shared need to reconnect with the natural world,” Ruth Mottershead, the British brand’s creative director, said. With an assortment of styles available — ranging from whimsical murals and toile-like repeats to illustrations — the collection has a garden setting for every neck of the woods.
Arte
Old and new beautifully blend with Arte’s Les Tapisseries collection, which is an ode to 14th through 18th-century tapestries. “Each design is inspired by a classic, centuries-old tapestry that has been reimagined and revived through a contemporary lens,” shares Frederick Decoopman, head of design for Arte. “Each brings warmth, texture and color while serving as captivating conversation pieces.” The Belgium-based company employs its uncompromising quality and innovative craftsmanship to bring a dimensional depth to the collection’s five panoramics and five large-scale repeats.
Original BTC x Buchanan Studio
For Charlie Bowles, Original BTC’s director, its new Neotenic Collection with Buchanan Studio is “a true celebration of U.K. design and craftsmanship.” The partnership’s assortment of light fixtures possesses a soft, playful quality akin to a scoop of Neapolitan ice cream. “It’s firmly aimed at design and crafts enthusiasts,” Bowles adds. “People who care about how things are made, who designs them, and who makes them. This range is very special, and it’s something the owner will appreciate for years to come.”
AAPIDA Design Alliance x LALA CURIO
Home décor brand LALA CURIO debuted a capsule collection in partnership with the Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Design Alliance. Here, six designers created their own wallcoverings inspired by personal stories and their unique connection to their roots. Themes of proud heritage and cross-cultural memories permeated the collection, celebrating Asia’s cultural depth while reimagining it through a distinctly modern design lens. From left to right: Lingzhi Atlas by James Fung, Isles of Odyssey by Jean Liu, Penang Treillage by Alicia Cheung, Harbor & Stone by Jessica Davis, Shanshui of Formosa by Eric Chang, and Tropical Reverie by Peti Lau.
John Pomp
Philadelphia designer John Pomp unveiled his latest, shape-sifting light collection, aptly named Slumped. Here, sculptural glass is draped over a bespoke metal frame — managing to simultaneously grab attention and maintain an easy, airy quality. “Slumped is defined by the delicate floating gesture that’s almost handkerchief-like,” he says. “Created with scale, the design is dynamic yet soft.”
Sean Leffers
Sean Leffers evoked the spirit of An American in Paris by debuting his Out of Many, One collection at the Ritz Carlton in Paris. While an assortment of stripes and references to early American portraiture might feel at home in spaces like Charleston or Nantucket, other details like intricate weaving and block-printing give this collection global appeal.
Élitis
Though Élitis showcased a handful of collections in Paris, the French brand captured a mesmerizing mix of materials with Pamir. Inspired by 1940s modernity, volcanic force, and Japanese influence, the geometric patterns cleverly juxtaposed fine silk with raw craft paper. The result? A repeat that’s opulent, not ostentatious.
Dedar
For Dedar’s latest offerings, the Italian, family-run brand looked to unexpected sources of inspiration. “It is the reflection of personal and collective memories of everyday experiences and of textile archetypes placed side by side and intermingled to offer new expressive potential to contemporary living,” says Raffaele Fabrizio, Dedar’s creative director. A favorite: Métro Beaubourg, a mix of colorful, graphic strokes evokes the adventurous spirit of a subway map.
JANUS et Cie x Manuel Canovas
While we love to pore over fabric swatches, there’s nothing quite like seeing a new textile displayed on furniture. That’s exactly what made Manuel Canovas’s partnership with outdoor furniture brand JANUS et Cie a design-minded delight. “We were thrilled to collaborate with the distinguished fabric house for their spring launch. One of our most iconic and recognizable collections, Amalfi, was a natural complement and looked absolutely stunning in their Paris showroom.” On view: Canovas’ Zila, Corti, and Panama patterns, indoor-outdoor textiles that, together, offer whimsical pattern play.
Vandra Rugs
“Our latest collection reimagines Scandinavian weaving traditions through a contemporary lens, creating a dialogue between heritage and modern design,” Cia Attling, VANDRA’s co-founder, says of the six new rugs on view in Paris. From the dimensional, ocean-inspired Onde to Radar, a hypnotic weave crafted from zigzags that radiate from a single corner, each rug creates an unforgettable underfoot.
Andrea Schumacher x The Vale London
The Liesl Collection, a collaboration between The Vale London and designer Andrea Monath Schumacher, might be new; however, some might argue it was generations in the making. The inspiration: Schumacher’s grandmother, Elizabeth Burger Monath, lovingly known as Liesl, whose artistic career spanned over five decades. Here, her assortment of woodblock prints, expressive paintings and charming illustrations are transformed into wallcoverings that sit at the intersection of interior design and fine art.
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