Brave new world: Moustache presents inaugural edition of 'Favoris'

Moustache Favoris Jean Baptiste Fastrez Favoris Hammer
Debuting in September, Moustache's 'Favoris' exhibition and auction will feature a collection of 100 pieces by over 50 international designers, including this hammer by Jean-Baptiste Fastrez, which will be used to auction off each piece (and will be auctioned off itself as the last item)
(Image credit: TBC)

From the 3–6 September, French design producer Moustache will present its inaugural edition of 'Favoris': an exhibition, auction and party, marking the birth of a new direction for the brand.

The name 'Favoris' was chosen for its double meaning in French: it means 'favoured', but also, fittingly, the word indicates sideburns – a ‘close relative’ and an apt addition to the Moustache. A step sideways, as the editeur calls it, 'Favoris' is a new venture into unexplored (for them) auction territory and a new experiment in working with designers from all over the world.

In a manifesto introducing the new project, Moustache mentions the changing habits of consumers, and a desire to own objects that are more unique and representative of their tastes and lives, clashing with the attempts of manufacturers to keep up with production. 'We are living this paradox as a publisher,' they say. 'To progress, serial objects must be produced at the best price to achieve the best sales.' They cite the many projects the brand had to abandon because they were not practical, too expensive or just plain risky to produce.

A year ago, founder Stéphane Arriubergé attended an auction at the artist-operated Örnsbergsauktionen in Stockholm, the event inspiring a new concept for his own design work. 'We immediately thought of holding an exhibition in Paris crowned by a sale to promote projects that we cannot always support and produce with Moustache, but which we admire,' he says.

A wishlist of designers and projects was put together, including those the brand hasn't been able to work with due to financial and manufacturing constraints. The result is a collection of 100 pieces by over 50 international designers, from tabletop items to furniture via lighting and conceptual objects. Participants include the Austrian duo Mischer'traxler, Studio Swine, Os & Oos and Inga Sempé, factoring a mix of newcomers and established designers with a diverse range of styles.

For the occasion, Arriubergé has gathered an impressive team, headed by Li Edelkoort (as the mistress of ceremonies) and including Jean-Baptiste Fastrez, in charge of the exhibition design as well as the hammer which will be used to auction off each piece (and will be auctioned off itself as the last item). Parisian auctioneers Doré & Giraud have also leant their expertise for the event, held in the vast halls of Studio Cassiopée in Paris.

'It's an exploratory notebook full of impossibilities which deserve to be shown,' is Arriubergé's definition of this ambitious project. 'Moustache’s ideal cabinet of curiosities.'

Table clock by Swiss designer Anne Lutz, made of maple wood

Table clock by Swiss designer Anne Lutz, made of maple wood with a digital UV print

(Image credit: Anne Lutz)

Moustache Favoris Azambourg

'Manivelle' table lamp by François Azambourg


(Image credit: TBC)

A pair of lamps by French studio Brichet Ziegler

A pair of lamps by French studio Brichet Ziegler, designed to evoke the metamorphosis of an animal

(Image credit: TBC)

Lamp by Constance Guisset

Lamp by Constance Guisset

(Image credit: TBC)

Protected Vases' are a duo of ceramic vessels enriched with adhesive tape and fabrics

David Dubois' 'Protected Vases' are a duo of ceramic vessels enriched with adhesive tape and fabrics

(Image credit: TBC)

Projecting light and metal oil pourer

Projecting light by Dennis Parren (left) and metal oil pourer by Tijmen Smeulders (right)

(Image credit: TBC)

'T-Shelves' by Swiss designer Dimitri Bähler

'T-Shelves' by Swiss designer Dimitri Bähler

(Image credit: Dimitri Bähler)

'Nerofumo', by Dutch duo Faberhama, is a pair of ceramic vases

'Nerofumo', by Dutch duo Faberhama, is a pair of ceramic vases with a black surface achieved through a Bucchero reduction – a firing method used by ancient Romans

(Image credit: TBC)

French designer Ferréol Babin contributed with the 'Flocons' table, hand-decorated with brush dots

French designer Ferréol Babin contributed with the 'Flocons' table, hand-decorated with brush dots

(Image credit: Ferréol Babin)

François Dumas' seating collection is composed of five playful pieces made of colorful foam

François Dumas' seating collection is composed of five playful pieces made of colorful foam

(Image credit: TBC)

Inga Sempé's armoire features shelves whose contents are protected by a layer of natural horse manes and tails

Inga Sempé's armoire features shelves whose contents are protected by a layer of natural horse manes and tails

(Image credit: TBC)

Side table by French designer Joachim Jirou-Najou

Side table by French designer Joachim Jirou-Najou


(Image credit: Joachim Jirou-Najou)

Titled 'Lucky Toad' porcelain vases

Titled 'Lucky Toad', these porcelain vases by French designer Laureline Galliot were initially shown at Hyères in 2013

(Image credit: Laureline Galliot)

Striking neon lights and mirror experiments

Striking neon lights by Dutch designer Sabine Marcelis (left) and German Ermics' mirror experiments (right) were also included in the 'Favoris' selection

(Image credit: Sabine Marcelis, German Ermics)

Wood vases by Polish designer Maria Jeglinska

Wood vases by Polish designer Maria Jeglinska


(Image credit: Maria Jeglinska)

Virtual Florist' series by Minale Maeda

'Virtual Florist' series by Minale Maeda

(Image credit: TBC)

Mischer'traxler's 'The Idea of a Tree' is a cotton and fiberglass bench

Mischer'traxler's 'The Idea of a Tree' is a cotton and fiberglass bench made over an extended period of time, using the sun to impact the manufacturing process

(Image credit: TBC)

Among more conceptual and experimental pieces, there are also functional and essential items, such as this pair of tables

Among more conceptual and experimental pieces, there are also functional and essential items, such as this pair of tables by Pool (left) and Os & Oos (right)

(Image credit: TBC)

Swedish designer Nick Ross presented colourful marble pieces

Swedish designer Nick Ross presented colourful marble pieces

(Image credit: Nick Ross)

Philipp Weber's vase, one of a set of two, was made using a new trumpet-inspired glassblowing pipe

Philipp Weber's vase, one of a set of two, was made using a new trumpet-inspired glassblowing pipe, enabling the craftsman to shape the inner cavities of the glass

(Image credit: TBC)

French design studio Pool have recreated plastic bowls and a milk bottle in enameled ceramic

French design studio Pool have recreated plastic bowls and a milk bottle in enameled ceramic

(Image credit: TBC)

Pool's suspended 'Trait en Cercle' lamp

Pool's suspended 'Trait en Cercle' lamp 

(Image credit: TBC)

A triple fan composition by Raw Color

A triple fan composition by Raw Color

(Image credit: TBC)

Sascha Nordmeyer's compositions merge exotic flowers with butterflies

Sascha Nordmeyer's compositions merge exotic flowers with butterflies

(Image credit: TBC)

Inspired by a fish tail, Studio Swine's 'Uo' sculpture was developed using a sand casting

Inspired by a fish tail, Studio Swine's 'Uo' sculpture was developed using a sand casting

(Image credit: TBC)

Mirror by Ionna Vautrin (left) and 'Yatari' bow and arrows by Jean-Baptiste Fastrez (right)

Mirror by Ionna Vautrin (left) and 'Yatari' bow and arrows by Jean-Baptiste Fastrez (right)

(Image credit: TBC)

ADDRESS

Studio Cassiopé
11, rue des Arquebusiers 
75003 Paris

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Rosa Bertoli was born in Udine, Italy, and now lives in London. Since 2014, she has been the Design Editor of Wallpaper*, where she oversees design content for the print and online editions, as well as special editorial projects. Through her role at Wallpaper*, she has written extensively about all areas of design. Rosa has been speaker and moderator for various design talks and conferences including London Craft Week, Maison & Objet, The Italian Cultural Institute (London), Clippings, Zaha Hadid Design, Kartell and Frieze Art Fair. Rosa has been on judging panels for the Chart Architecture Award, the Dutch Design Awards and the DesignGuild Marks. She has written for numerous English and Italian language publications, and worked as a content and communication consultant for fashion and design brands.