For 25 years, Pour La Galerie has been producing timeless lighting fixtures in collaboration with French and Italian artisans. As sober as they are elegant, these lights are favoured by hotels, boutiques and high-end restaurants throughout the world. It must be said that the wall lamps, floor lamps, bedside lamps, table lamps and hanging lamps designed by the brand have no equal when it comes to combining the nobility of the materials and the craftsmanship. The brainchild of designer Marion Delaunay, Pour La Galerie is now under the artistic direction of Fatima Borja Alvarez de Toledo. This fashion designer agreed to be interviewed by Signatures Singulières Magazine. Here are a few selected pieces…
Above: Saratre table lamp. H 56 cm. Available in: rusty iron, steel, anthracite, chrome, nickel, bronze, antique brass, brushed brass, bright brass. Pour La Galerie.
Why did you agree to join the Pour La Galerie adventure?
For many reasons! First of all, you should know that I am a lawyer by training. In 2008, I made a career change into the field of design and fashion. After graduating, I started my own brand of headbands, a brand that still exists today. This little old-fashioned accessory is a wonderful ornament to make women more beautiful. It was in this quest for beauty that I decided to take over Pour La Galerie. I believe that there is a tenuous link between fashion and design. And for me, this professional development was a natural continuation. Pour La Galerie lights enhance the places they decorate in the same way that my headbands enhance the faces of the women who wear them. All of them are much more than simple objects.
How did the handover go?
The handover was very smooth. Marion Delaunay accompanied me in the early stages before I started on my own. And I was keen to continue what she had started. Pour La Galerie is a brand that is very well known in the world of interior decoration. Don’t forget that it was one of the first to exhibit at Maison&Objet! When the opportunity to take over Pour La Galerie presented itself to me, I thought that I could bring all my multi-disciplinary skills to the company while being part of its history. I deeply love the DNA of excellence and timelessness of this brand. In fact, I have taken over all of the existing collections, which I find very relevant. With that little “timeless classic” aspect that you expect from a lasting decorative piece!
What is the strength of Pour La Galerie?
I believe that the strength of Pour La Galerie lies in its ability to successfully combine noble materials and artisanal know-how in such elegant lighting. It is no coincidence that prestigious establishments such as the Westminster Hotel in Le Touquet, the Rocco Forte group (Browns Hotel in London, Hotel de Russie in Rome, Hotel Verdura in Sicily) and La Réserve in Geneva have placed their trust in us. Our work also attracts famous interior designers such as Tino Zervudachi or Alexis Mabille. For each of our clients, we have the possibility of adapting existing models according to their needs, with no minimum production. We sometimes create exclusive models for them, which highlight the unique interiors in which they are inserted. Some of them even become part of our catalogue. This is the case of the ASPEN wall lamp in its double version. It has been much requested and is a great success!
What next?
I’m working hard to expand our permanent collections with new models that emphasize the mix of materials and new technologies. Pour La Galerie has always worked with solid brass in all its forms. For my part, I wanted to introduce ceramics into our lighting. I find that this material fits perfectly with the identity of Pour La Galerie with its neutral colours and pure lines. The result is a table lamp that I named Barbara and that I presented at the Maison&Objet show last January. It was a great source of pride!
Showroom Pour La Galerie
Sur rendez-vous
86 avenue Niel
75017 Paris
Tél. : +33 (0)6 15 70 51 56
contact@pourlagalerie.com
www.pourlagalerie.com
