When fashion comes to the table

At a time when fast-food is switching to plastic containers and parties are decked out with plates made from avocado pits or sugar cane, the arts of the table are undergoing a surprising revival. Ironically, in this disposable/recyclable era, fashion is coming to the rescue of elegance at the table. Houses such as Louis Vuitton, Dior, Hermès and other luxury giants are throwing themselves into the battle, blurring the lines between fashion and gastronomy.

In a society where the photo of our dish takes precedence over its taste, tableware suddenly eclipses its contents. On social networks, images of carefully arranged dishes compete with those of the latest fashion accessories, revealing a world where shining through what you eat becomes as crucial as what you wear. Luxury brands, already masters in the art of visual seduction, are stepping into this breach. After all, why shouldn't porcelain be the new "it" accessory? The incursion of these fashion icons into the world of tableware is not just a question of brand extension. It's a veritable ode to everyday elegance, a harmony between the beautiful and the functional. These houses remind us with panache that tradition and luxury still have their place at the table, perhaps even more than ever.

Louis Vuitton: culinary journeys from luggage to banquets

In a bold move to diversify, renowned trunk-maker Louis Vuitton recently launched "Monogram Flower Tile", its first tableware collection. Some lucky visitors to the Croisette in Saint-Tropez were able to get a taste of this collection, presented over the summer at the ephemeral White 1921 restaurant. True to its luxury heritage, Louis Vuitton collaborated with artisans from Limoges, the cradle of French porcelain, to create this series. This union represents a natural fusion of two worlds of French artisanal excellence. The "Monogram Flower Tile" collection consists of 18 porcelain pieces, combining the brand's iconic monogram with watercolor nuances. Each piece, from plates and serving dishes to coffee and tea cups, features this intense blue on a brilliant white background, embodying Louis Vuitton's distinctive luxury. It is a true tribute to the art of the table, where fashion and tradition meet to create a refined culinary experience.
► www.louisvuitton.com/fra-fr/art-de-vivre

Dior, when the art of the table takes on an artistic dimension

In turn, under the direction of Maria Grazia Chiuri (Artistic Director of Christian Dior's women's collections) and Cordelia de Castellane (Artistic Director for the Maison), the Maison Dior unveils ephemeral collections blending tradition and innovation, as evidenced by the latest collaboration with artist and sculptor Jean-Michel Othoniel. But tableware is nothing new for the illustrious house on Avenue Montaigne. As early as 1947, the first pieces appeared on the first floor of the Paris boutique. Since then, the refined pieces, which embody a luxury that is both intimate and spectacular, have equipped the chicest tables. Dessert plates printed with toile de Jouy or cannage, the brand's iconic pieces, fragile glasses in which a sprig of lily of the valley seems to float, Christian Dior's lucky charms or bowls colonized by tiny bees, can today be found in many "house of Dior" around the world.
► www.dior.com/fr_fr/fashion/maison

Hermès, a firm believer in principles

It was in 1984 that the Arts de la table department was born, with the first Pivoines collection, marking Hermès' commitment to the culinary arts. At the heart of this adventure, the French house celebrates its culture through tea sets, plates and cutlery, all meticulously handcrafted. Each creation reflects themes dear to Hermès, such as the sun, horse racing or nature. Among the notable collections, "Hippomobile" by Gianpaolo Pagni, fuses the equestrian universe with the style of the comic strip, drawing inspiration from an engraving in the Émile Hermès archives. This illustrates Hermès' ability to blend tradition and innovation, while remaining true to its heritage.
► www.hermes.com/fr/category/maison

Gucci

In 2013, Gucci elegantly expanded its empire by spending 13 million to acquire Richard Ginori, an illustrious Italian company that had ruled the porcelain market for nearly 300 years. Under the magic wand of then Artistic Director Alessandro Michele, the tableware collection took on a new lease of life, aligning itself with Gucci's textile creations. For Michele, these pieces were nothing less than "a new way of dressing in Gucci". With the recent arrival of Sabato de Sarno as head of artistic direction, we're keeping our fingers crossed that the baroque and slightly surreal spirit, reminiscent of a tea-time at Alice in Wonderland, will continue to adorn the brand's cups, plates and serving dishes.
► www.gucci.com/fr/fr/ca/decor-lifestyle

Castelbajac, designer's jack-of-all-trades

Jean-Charles de Castelbajac never ceases to juggle art, fashion and design with colorful ease. Known for his vivid hues and childlike nostalgia, his creations leave a lasting impression. Known for his collaborations with furniture houses such as Maison Dada and Ligne Roset, in 2007 he also ventured into tableware with Deshoulières and Bernardaud. Early last year, he changed creams and collaborated with Gien, another great earthenware house, revealing "L'Archipel Sentimental", a colorful collection. In 2024, the prolific designer unveils a new collaboration: a series of delicate, poetic glasses with WawwLaTable. The brand created by Péri Cochin and Arabelle Reille, which aims to "dust off" tableware, has found a perfect partner in Castelbajac.

• www.gien.com/fr/collections/decors
• www.fr/collections/jean-charles-de-castelbajac

Ann Demeulemeester and Serax, the conversion of a designer

Ann Demeulemeester's evolution from fashion icon to tableware designer is as surprising as her collections. After founding her brand in 1985 and making her mark on the fashion world with her unique approach, Demeulemeester took an unexpected turn in 2013. Collaborating with Axel Van Den Bossche, the head of Serax (another Belgian figure!), she infused her characteristic minimalism into a line of tableware and objects, produced in China with an eye for detail. After cotton and lace, she now shapes porcelain, steel and lead-free crystal. Fine, sensual cutlery, plates that play on light and shadow, ribbed glasses shaped by the mouth... dozens of objects, the fruit of the new chapter in her career, that prove that even tableware can be a canvas for artistic expression.
► www.serax.com/fr/pages/ann-demeulemeester