To Paris we go, where the first major homeware show of 2018 opened its doors onto another potpourri of flavours and styles for all budgets.
Similar to this year’s fashion events in Florence and Berlin, sustainability was front-and-centre for many exhibitors at Maison & Objet, where the use of considered and recovered materials was augmented by a strong presence of sustainable lifestyle items like water bottles and toothbrushes – more often pitched as trendy gifts and personal accessories than as homewares for a new generation.
Thematically, the show’s most pervasive force was hygge – sometimes mentioned by name or, more commonly, manifested through soft lines and soothing colour palettes. Its influence could also be detected in a preference for retro character themes and the evolution of hipster-oriented collections. “Digital detox” was another important headline emphasising quality of life for papergoods, deskware and gift brands, alongside RFID-blocking wallets and card cases by Secrid and others. A fresh approach to wellness design came from Alessi, whose Marcel Wanders-designed home fragrances collection was a major focal point.
As always, the show’s “Smart Gift” and “Showroom Inspirations” spaces provided the most fertile ground for brand innovation. A sharp contrast to the muted tones of hygge came in the form of a loud and fairly large and loud presence of products inspired by 80s Memphis design – as at Houtique and Write Sketch & – and street-punk aesthetics through the likes of Seletti, Diesel Living and 24 Bottles.
In the more luxurious sections of the show, it’s evident how industrial designers and artists have taken over from fashion designers as markers of prestige. There is little room left these days for the opulent glamour that used to dominate the show’s furniture and home textiles collections, which seem to stagnate more with every passing year. Design collaboration means more than fashion licensing: a point made plainly evident by the excitement generated by the visit of Oki Sato a.k.a. Nendo to Hall 7.
For these and more highlights from the show, take a look through our gallery…