Décor, design and lifestyle fair Maison&Objet (M&O) welcomed back visitors from overseas for its second post-pandemic fair, with one in three visitors coming from abroad, up 36.7 per cent over the September 2021 edition.
The show, which was moved from its usual January slot to March due to Covid restrictions, attracted more than 51,000 visitors from 136 nations and 1,811 brands from 53 countries.
One of those visitors was Aussie company Mosaique Imports, which decided to attend after international borders finally opened and Australians were once again free to travel overseas.
“I felt invigorated and so happy to have attended this fair,” say the company’s Craig Malanot and Bertrand Perron.
“After a few years of not attending due to Covid and finding new ways to do business, we wondered what relevance there would be in travelling from Sydney to Paris to visit.
“It was a much-reduced event in size, however, it was not a reduced event in what was presented and how it was presented. The exhibitors made a great effort in the way they creatively showcased products.”
Indeed, visitors liked what they were seeing with specifiers (34 per cent) and the hospitality industry (nearly 2,500 professionals) placing plenty of orders.
With seven halls and Maison&Objet In the City (a new itinerary in Paris that showcased nearly 90 prestigious showrooms), the fair brought together the entire industry, mixing loyal brands showcasing new products with carefully curated new brands worth noticing.
“We met regular suppliers and looked at new possibilities and came away feeling refreshed and revived about Maison&Objet and about trade fair presentations.
“We explored ‘M&O In the City’ which was also a creative and surprising way to link many exhibitors who opened showrooms in Paris to link with the salon. The installation of enormous light shades and sculptural works was a joy to experience.
“The installations by the organisers and the mini exhibitions were just superb. The walkway from hall 5 to hall 6 was a creative, surprising and elegant way to link these halls. The ‘So Home Hôtel’ was inspiring in its creativity and presentation. As usual ‘Marriage Freres’ surprised with a Salon de The that was fresh and surprising,” they add.
Through the What’s New? trend spaces—designed by Elizabeth Leriche, François Bernard, François Delclaux and, for the first time, Julia Rouzaud, founder of GoodMoods—brands registered on the MOM (Maison&Objet and More) digital platform or in the Maison&Objet In The City itinerary were presented to visitors in an innovative and inspiring way.
Looking ahead to September, a new project called Future on Stage will be added to M&O’s program, dedicated to new companies worth noticing for their innovations. Also, after highlighting six Japanese designers and one Japanese craftsman, the September edition Rising Talent Awards will focus on the Netherlands.
M&O September will be held from 8 to 12 September 2022 at the Paris-Nord Villepinte Exhibition Centre.
