- Would you introduce yourself in a few words?
I’m 38 and already have the impression of having lived several lives! I’ve never been afraid to change paths, I always let my instinct guide me.
After a musical and pastoral childhood, studious Parisian higher education, prep school, business school, I left to work in Tel Aviv where I was living 100 miles an hour. Then, back in Paris I went from one consulting mission to another to eventually join a big industrial group. In the middle of all that, the birth of my wonderful daughter 4 years ago and the purchase of a double bass to start learning jazz. Nothing in my life course predisposed me to open a tableware boutique and yet… I jumped in entrepreneurship with both feet and love every minute of this newly found freedom.
The origin of such a decision? Very simple: an incredible location for rent right by my place, located in a shopping street, mainly with food related shops but no pretty tableware boutique nearby. An epiphany you could say. With my “creation of an enterprise” leave in my pocket, I opened A MA TABLE in September 2013 and launched the a-ma-table online boutique a year later. I love playing merchant!
- Where does this interest for tableware come from ?
Eating well has always been one of my family’s priorities. And to eat well, you need tasty and quality food, but also pretty dishes to honor it. I inherited this taste for pretty tables from my grandmother, a Greek immigrant, and a World War II survivor who became a true epicurean, loving life. She used to take me to the Maison du Danemark (House of Denmark), to Ladurée… The taste for nice things!
Japanese culture also fascinates me, starting with their gastronomy and their ceramics, which are intimately linked.
- What is A MA TABLE ’s operative word in your mind ?
“Savoir-Faire”: In opening A MA TABLE, it was important to me to honor craftsmen’s work, beginning with the French ceramists and promote quality products in many different styles to inspire creative tables.
- What are your inspirations ?
Nature, Japan, jazz clubs. I like noble materials, starting with stoneware, natural wood, clean Zen ambiances enhanced by a pretty bright-colored flower bouquet. Just like with jazz, you’ve got to listen to your feelings and not be afraid to improvise!
- What’s your favorite right now on the e-shop ?
I’m a compulsive collector of Japanese wood… And I’m so happy when I meet customers who share this passion! I also love ceramist Margot Lhomme’s creations, which are not on the e-shop but available at the store rue des Martyrs (just like all the other unique pieces of the ceramists with whom A MA TABLE works. Margot’s pieces are so delicate and so fine, she has talent well above her 27 years of age.
- What are your future projects ?
I just took Florian Masse as a partner, he is the founder of the online sale website The Cool Republic; there is clearly some obvious synergies between our two worlds. Florian is always looking for new designers in the furniture, home decor and fashion accessories fields… Just like me in tableware. It’s very enriching to confront our inspirations.
Also in the making, there is this project of opening more A MA TABLE outlets!
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