2025 was particularly strong for Déco Off, the annual show in January where fabric and wall covering showrooms in Paris pull out all the stops and show off their latest. It occurs at the same time as Maison et Objet (which I also covered), so it’s an extraordinarily busy time.
The View from Paris’s Déco Off Showrooms
My first stop was a spectacular installation by Pierre Frey in Saint Germain, where he took over a derelict hotel, the Hôtel de Guise, to show off his new Deserts collection. Each room was more beautiful than the previous one, spread out on three floors. Frey managed to put layer upon layer without it ever looking overdone. (Although minimalists were probably a bit put off!)
Jim Thompson showed an impressive number of new collections, including new Ikats (a resist-dyeing technique with strong history in Central Asia, Southeast Asia, as well as Central and South America) for which he is justifiably famous). Ikats both real and simulated showed up in many (many!) places, in forms both traditional and fresh. It was interesting to see how something so specific and so well-known can present so many personalities, depending on how it is treated.
New York-based Lori Weitzner presented a new collection inspired by the Alhambra, including a print, Darro, inspired by floor tiles there. She also showed me some sustainable paper wall tiles made from abaca pulp that were captivating in their simplicity
Sahco, now owned by Kvadrat, displayed lots of snakeskin prints (it is, after all, the Chinese Year of the Snake), shown alongside an appealing graphic weave and some solids. They also debuted a new wool and modal fabric that they draped artfully around the showroom.
Prints and Patterns on Full Display
My first full day of appointments began at Schumacher on Rue Jacob, a stretch of charm where a cluster of the showrooms showing during Déco Off are located. There were many gems to be found there, including collections by Johanna Ortiz and Timothy Corrigan. Ms. Ortiz presented an always-welcome updated take on the tropical chic, another staple of Parisian design.
Both Samuel and Sons and Houlès debuted charming trims, and managed to make this kind of old-fashioned element look entirely modern. Samuel & Sons’ Kaleidoscope was passementerie reinvented, and Ilana picked up on the eyelash theme I’d seen around town. Houlès’ Sofia braid trim took the snake theme in a whole new direction.
Several trends appeared in various forms, including scary creatures (gargoyles, griffins, snakes); all sorts of representations of eyelashes (prints, lace, etc.); basically linen everything (this is Paris, after all); faux suedes and velvets; luxe outdoor fabrics that look every bit as appealing as their indoor counterparts; wall coverings and paneling made from wood, cork, water hyacinth, and other natural materials.
Another thread (silk, I suppose) I picked up on was corn. At least two manufacturers (Schumacher and Barry Dixon for Vervain) showed prints inspired by or made from prints of ears of the stuff.
At the bar at Hôtel de Crillon, a 33€ “corn forward” cocktail was on offer from the Autumn Harvest menu. It’s a mix of rye whiskey, corn, sherry, pecans, citrus juice, and clarified milk, described as “a clarified milk punch that captures the sweet, mellow essence of corn milk, offering a smooth and soothing sip.”
Santé! Until next year, Paris designers.
Story by Stephen Treffinger
Photo courtesy of Pierre Frey
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