Révélations: Le Salon des Métiers d'art et de la Création

By Tiffanie Boggs, MBA in International Luxury Brand Management 2015-2016, United States

After completing our first week of classes, I, along with many of my fellow classmates in the 2015-2016 class of ESSEC’s MBA in International Luxury Brand Management program, decided to visit the Grand Palais in Paris for the Révélations Fine Craft and Creation Fair. During our first week at ESSEC, we began our dive into the cultural foundations of luxury and the pillars of luxury brand management. The timing of Révélations could not have been better, as we were excited to continue our journey into luxury by seeing firsthand the artistic craftsmanship of les Ateliers d’Art de France. 

The Grand Palais was the perfect setting for Révélations, as it is a cultural establishment that houses some of the greatest artistic events in Paris, including the fashion shows of Chanel. The steel, iron, and glass ceiling is breathtaking and creates a natural light, which illuminated the beautiful creations throughout the exposition.

One of the highlights of the fair was Le Banquet, which was an exhibit that spanned the length of the exposition floor and featured some of the most spectacular pieces of the show, representing 15 countries: Chile, Denmark, Finland, France, Italy, Iceland, Japan, Norway, Netherlands, Czech Republic, Senegal, Sweden, South Korea, Taiwan and Tunisia. The art was created using various types of materials including ceramic, glass, wood, and steel. During our first week of class, culture was at the center of our conversations about luxury, and you could clearly see how each country’s unique culture was reflected in every piece of art in this exhibit. 

It was also incredible to see the jewelry featured throughout the show by the many jewelry ateliers represented at Révélations. From simple and timeless designs to intricate and flashy designs, it was impossible not to be in awe of the combination of craftsmanship, design, and love that went into the creation of each piece. 

Le Conseil National du Cuir had an impressive booth, featuring many types of leather products such as handbags, shoes, saddles, and gloves. A Hermès Birkin Bag was displayed in the booth, which I believe is the perfect example of timeless style created out of beautiful materials and immaculate finishing touches. The booth featured artisans who were making shoes out of leather and wood. It was amazing to watch the artisans at work and to see the amount of precision necessary to create a beautiful shoe.

I left Révélations inspired for the upcoming school year, excited for all of the opportunities and adventures that ESSEC will bring to our class.