Connection with L.A.’s Kneedler|Fauchère Personifies Franco-American Ties
Pierre Frey Showroom in Paris
The French and Americans have always had a close connection, ever since the birth of the USA. France was America’s first ally, and Franco-American relations are extremely important to both countries to this day.
In the design world, there are countless examples of cross-pollination of ideas and inspiration between the two cultures. Don’t forget that it was a French-born architect, Pierre Charles L’Enfant, who designed the plan for Washington, D.C., a beautiful city with a European flavor. And Angeleno Frank Gehry was the architect of choice for the stunning Louis Vuitton museum in Paris.
The Pierre Frey luxury fabric design house in France has been family-owned since 1935. Now, it is run by father Patric Frey (center), and his three sons (from left) Pierre (holding his son Georges), Matthieu, and Vincent (with his sons Vasco and Esteban)
Which brings us to La Maison Pierre Frey, the luxury family-owned fabric design house in Paris, which has developed a special relationship with Los Angeles and one West Hollywood showroom in particular, Kneedler|Fauchère (See “Want Exclusive Entrée into Paris Design Week?”)
My colleague G. Bruce Smith is currently in Paris. He visited the main Pierre Frey showroom, and discovered for himself the magic of this fabric design house, a Parisian’s love for L.A., and a special event planned just for American designers.
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Stepping into La Maison Pierre Frey’s elegant main showroom, located near the beautiful Paris Opera House, is to be immersed in a world of incredible fabrics, spread throughout several well-appointed rooms.
The family-owned textiles and wallpaper house was founded by Pierre Frey in January 1935, and was in operation just four years before Pierre closed shop to be a tank driver in the French Army at the outbreak of World War II. Upon his return to Paris he was able to focus again on growing his textile business.
Pierre Frey recently introduced its Street Art line by graffiti artist Toxic
Business exploded for decades after the war, and in 1976, Pierre’s son Patrick took over the design house and is now running it with his sons Pierre, Matthieu and Vincent. Without doubt, Pierre Frey has designed and manufactured some of the most coveted fabrics in the world.
I recently had the pleasure of meeting with Pierre Frey, and we had a wide-ranging conversation about the fashion house, the growing eclecticism in fabric design tastes, and the international market.
Pierre told me that since it was founded, the business has acquired several other prestigious textile houses, one of which, Braquenie, dates back to 1824. The company sells to interior designers, either directly or through agents, all over the world, with the largest percent of its sales coming from France and the U.S.
The business has stayed true to its Gallic roots, with 70 percent of its collection made in France, most of its artists French, and its factory in France.
“We have the French know-how and the French patterns,” Pierre said. “Not to say we don’t explore other styles, but our perspective is always French.”
And indeed, a look at the fabrics confirms Pierre’s statement. With traditional designs making up a large part of its collection, the fabric house also has a wide range of modern and contemporary patterns – and even recently launched a Street Art line (based on American graffiti artist Toxic’s work).
Pierre told me that eclecticism in tastes internationally is the dominant trend. An old chateau’s interior could be decorated with modern art and designs, while a contemporary home might be a showcase for traditional patterns.
But tastes also vary from country to country, city to city. For example, Pierre said, Russians tend to like more ornate and decorative fabrics, Atlanta leans toward classic, and the Los Angeles aesthetic is generally more contemporary but has pockets of clients with traditional tastes. He noted that L.A. clients have a sense of fun with design choices, gravitating to solids, neutrals, faded and soft fabrics – in short, comfortable but chic.
Pierre Frey, eponymous grandson of the luxury design house, in his showroom in Paris
Pierre’s work takes him all over the world, but Los Angeles holds a special place in his heart. In fact, he said his dream would be to live in the City of Angels.
“I love Los Angeles because of the nature, the vibe, the food and the attitude,” he said. “People are open, welcoming, happy, very Zen. And of course it’s a very creative city.”
Pierre has a significant relationship with one Angeleno in particular – Rocky LaFleur, associate at Kneedler|Fauchère in the Pacific Design Center. A few years ago, Pierre said he was looking for a new agent and searched all over before meeting Rocky. The two of them hit it off immediately and established a close friendship – but also formed a unique venture.
Pierre suggested that Rocky bring some L.A. designers to France for Paris Design Week, and Rocky jumped at the opportunity, bringing a small group of interior designers to the City of Lights in January 2010.
Jardin de Mysore wallpaper
“It was right smack dab in the middle of the great recession,” Rocky recalls. “We all wanted and needed inspiration and community, and we got it in Paris in spades.”
Since then, Rocky’s tours have grown by leaps and bounds, with 75 people on the trip at the beginning of this year. And Pierre Frey treats the American visitors like royalty, including a textile presentation on a floating barge on the Seine exclusively for them. This January, the fabric house will host a reception for the group, expected to number more than 100, at the prestigious Musée des Arts Décoratifs (located in the Louvre), which will be exhibiting a retrospective of Pierre Frey work.
Pierre Frey’s playful Marabout design
It’s all part of the grand history of friendship and cross-cultural collaboration and inspiration.
“There’s definitely a great link between the U.S. and France in clothing, architecture, design,” Pierre Frey said. “Americans look to us for inspiration, and we look to Americans for their sense of freedom and creativity.”
