Toulouse: an ephemeral shop of handicrafts made in the South-West
Rue des arts, in the city center of Toulouse, Maison Marah, an interior decoration brand has opened a pop-up store open until June.
It is in a refined setting that Maison Marah’s ephemeral boutique offers around sixty handcrafted pieces. Open since the beginning of March in the Carmes district, this boutique is a first for the designers of the brand.
Unique pieces in limited collection
Emma Rodriguez and Sarah Gomez, two friends from Toulouse, launched the first Maison Marah collection online last November. This idea was born from an observation: all interior furniture is alike with the same brands that lack charm and authenticity. “We create neutral and refined products that last over time, like the objects of yesteryear,” explains Emma, a former employee in cosmetics marketing.
A handmade job
Today, the brand brings together around twenty designers from the south-west of France to offer unique pieces. “We co-create with our partner artisans, it’s a real human adventure,” says Emma, the 27-year-old co-manager. These links are forged in a sustainable way with a reasoned production that respects the rhythm of the craftsmen. Many of them are rather young, breaking with the image of aging craftsmanship, they note. Among their partners, the two young women spontaneously evoke Tipii Atelier. This glassblower from Toulouse offers a whole collection of tableware. “On an immediately appended on common values,” recalls Sarah. The sharing of artistic universes has created Alma glasses and decanters, whose shape is inspired by Bordeaux flute.
An ephemeral shop that gives projects
Opening a physical store was a necessity for Emma and Sarah. “Customers can touch the objects and we interact with them,” they agree. Traceability is the watchword of the Marah house. Each object is accompanied by a presentation sheet of the craftsman who created it. No longer being only on the internet has given visibility to the brand, which also benefits from word-of-mouth. From September, the two young women aim to open a permanent boutique. The adventure has only just begun.