Empreintes is a 600 m2 concept store in the heart of the Marais district , dedicated to creations made in France! A bold and successful gamble by Ateliers d'Art de France, since the concept store opened in 2016 is celebrating its two-year anniversary this year. Decoration, tableware, jewelry and bags are all on offer, with a wide range of unique and original creations.
Housed in a light-filled, industrial-style building, this four-storey temple to craftsmanship stands in stark contrast to globalized furniture chains and other formatted concepts. Here, everything is handmade in workshops all over France. In all, no fewer than 1,000 products made in France by 200 different designers are on sale.
From tableware to furniture, lighting and even jewelry, there's something for every taste and (almost) every budget. Prices range from around 20 euros for a mug to 7,900 euros for a wall-hanging marble mosaic by Ariane Blanquet.
It's true that most of our products are priced higher than those of the industry's behemoths, but we're talking about small production runs and, in some cases, one-offs .
And to understand that you're not just buying a product here, but the fruit of a long and meticulous process, all you have to do is take a look at the various "creator cells" which detail the creative process of the artisans on display.
Discover their background, the materials they use (wood, wool, porcelain....) and their workshop, with photos and explanatory texts. In short, you can immerse yourself in their world.
This immersion in the daily lives of French craftsmen continues in the basement, where a projection room has been set up to show films about the crafts.
On the second floor, we discover an exhibition space where a particular know-how or material is highlighted every six months. From September 6, 2018 to January 6, 2019, it's the exhibition-sale, HERITAGE that takes us on a journey with its nomadic imagination, raw materials, and millennia-old know-how.
Finally, on the second level, a vast relaxation area with comfortable sofas invites you to read up on craft know-how in the open-access library to one side.
The 1st-floor café reopens in January 2019, and everything you taste is served in designer pieces. All you need to live the experience to the full!
Against the tide of "always more" and "disposable everything", Empreintes invites us to take our time, look, discover and learn before acquiring an object. The place is magnificent, and even without buying anything, it's a real feast for the eyes, just like going to an exhibition, but with the added bonus of being able to touch it! So go to Empreintes, the store that's definitely like no other.
Please note that it's been over 4 years since our last visit, so the place and experience may have changed.
Dates and Opening Time
Starts February 12, 2023
Location
Prints
5 Rue de Picardie
75003 Paris 3
Access
Temple or Saint Sébastien Froissart
Official website
www.empreintes-paris.com
More information
Open Monday to Saturday, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., closed Sundays
