NEW YORK – French companies looking to expand into the U.S. market said that Americans appreciate luxury, specialness and wit – which is why they were exhibiting at last week’s Art de Vivre à la Française event in New York.
Organized by Business France, the event gave attendees a chance to see products and meet with companies that celebrated French heritage, craftsmanship and innovation.
“Americans love ‘made in France,’” said Benjamin Spruch, export manager for flatware and dinnerware brand Degrenne. “It’s synonymous with high-end quality.”
Slide show: French design takes center stage in New York at Art de Vivre a la Francaise
And while France has been hit with U.S. tariffs like many other countries, this might present an opportunity for French companies, Spruch added. With China’s tariffs especially high, that puts French products more in line with China’s, he said. If a fork from China is now $4 instead of $2 because of the tariffs, and a high-end fork from France is $6, U.S. companies might be willing to spend a little more now that a high-end brand is more in reach.
One of the more whimsical companies at the event was Ibride (pronounced “hybrid”), which makes such furniture as horse- and ostrich-shaped consoles, a bookshelf in the shape of the Arc de Triomphe and a bar cabinet with fringe “doors” (called Alpaga and available in vibrant colorways). The Alpaga was designed to “be a piece of furniture you want to touch all of the time,” and even comes with a comb, said co-founder Carine Jannin.
Ibride wants to expand in the U.S. because spaces are quite large here, Jannin said. Hotels are very luxe and they “want something special.”
Maison Ferdie wants to bring centerpieces back to dinner tables and believes that Americans would “understand the wit and humor” of its products — decorative objects that bring “art to the table,” said Annika Beck. Its founder and sculptor first created a chicken-shaped centerpiece for his own dinner table 30 years ago. Its current line includes centerpieces shaped as croissants, wheels of Camembert cheese, sausages and loaves of bread, all finished in 24 carat gold leaf. It also makes napkin rings and utensil holders in similar shapes.
On a dressed table at the event, Maison Ferdie‘s products were highlighted along with Degrenne‘s high-end flatware and porcelain dinnerware lines. Degrenne was founded in 1948 and used metal from WWII tanks to craft the molds for its utensils, Spruch said.
After 30 years in business in France, lighting company Villa Alice was launching in the U.S. market for the first time, said Dorota Dubrowska, the company’s founder and designer. She began her company because she was an interior designer for many years and needed the right lighting for her projects, she said.
Made of bronze using the lost wax technique, Villa Alice’s table and floor lamps are inspired by nature and animals. Her best-selling lamp for 30 years is the Olivier, a table lamp with branches coming out of its stem; its narrow-depth profile makes it ideal for console and other similar tables, she said. Finishes include its best-selling bronze, as well as gold, silver and white.
Goguette is a new wine storage brand from EuroCave Group, which manufactures long-term wine storage for collectors. The Goguette appliances are meant to be for shorter-term storage, something that is meant to be prominently displayed in a kitchen or entertaining space. It’s available in two sizes in the U.S. and three colors – white, slate blue and black. Each unit includes a touchscreen control panel and adjustable shelves and is vibration free.
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Art et Floritude creates light sculptures that are made to order in Paris. While its inspiration was initially 18th century chandeliers, the company now creates many nature- and organically themed items, said Lucie Bruno. Its porcelain flowers are made by hand, petal by petal, she said, there is no mold.
Art et Floritude is also slated to open a showroom in SoHo in several months to help expand its reach in the U.S, she added. “The potential in the U.S. is huge … There is nothing like our product here.”
La Maison Gaston was founded by Christelle Clairville to highlight artists and designers in the French West Indies. At the event, she showcased the work of Johanna Gregoire, including glassware featuring island topography-shaped and Grass pedestal tables that are handcarved. Florence Gossec, who creates bouquets and other pieces from brass wire; one piece was inspired by the lava lamps of the 1970s.
Tisserant Art & Style has been creating bronze lighting and furniture since 1930. Based in Paris, the company showed several lamps and fixtures, including its 176 ‘Forever’ lamp, made of gilded bronze in a 24K gold finish and pink quartz (it’s also available as a floor lamp, chandelier and sconce).
