The Lotus Bleu Team kicked-off 2017 with an exhilarating, albeit chilly, trip to Paris where we visited two back-to-back design events: Paris Déco Off and Maison & Objet.
During the five-day span of Paris Déco Off, textile showrooms opened their doors in celebration, revealing their newest collections alongside a slew of festivities and release events. To commemorate, the merchandising game came out in full force. Convivial displays incorporated elaborate color schemes and conceptual assemblies showcased the newest textiles coming into the market. It was a time to go big and push the limits. For example, as we walked down an idyllic Paris street, we were drawn into a room filled with nothing but tangerine parrot figurines ensconced in fuchsia and white patterns! The Jim Thompson showroom was one of our favorites, where a towering foo dog peered out onto the street, fashioned out of cloth and passementerie, looking ready to pounce!
A cheerful workspace vignette at Larsen stopped us in our tracks. The encapsulated scene payed homage to the creative process - mood boards and inspirational images layered upon one another and a worktable piled high with finish and textiles samples, the tools of our trade.
The scene inside the showrooms was cozy, lively and energized. Spirits were flowing, literally and figuratively, as visitors gathered around the fresh, new collections and took note of what 2017 has in store.
We ran into some friendly and familiar faces along the way, including the team from UK-based Christopher Farr Cloth textiles, a Lotus Bleu favorite. A sneak peak into thier new woven collection has us anxious to use these stunning fabrics as soon as we can!
After spending a few days exploring the intimate vibe of the Paris Déco Off, we took a day to venture out to the Maison & Objet trade show. Inherently dynamic, positively overwhelming and loaded with excitement, the show brought together intriguing designers from across the globe, providing a snapshot of their work.
Despite the acreage at hand, we managed to traverse enough territory to spot some jaw-dropping goods while gaining insight of what's up-and-coming. The stand-out trend we latched onto was the varying shades of green, from mint to malachite, jade to moss.
Even this colossal pop-up bar + eatery was ripe with cascading greenery. A nod to the Pantone Color of the Year, perhaps? We would've loved to stick around for some avocado tartar (aka, guacamole) and cocktails, but after such an inspirational workout, it was time to retire to our hotel.
