A new virtual showroom for French design and products targeted at architects and interior design professionals has been launched in the Middle East by Business France, the agency supporting the international development of the French economy.
Named French Design Corner Middle East, the virtual showroom is said to be the first of its kind in the region and highlights the “creativity, elegance, and history of the French know-how in high potential markets”, said a statement from Business France, which added that it has been set up as a digital alternative to the need for proximity between regional and French partners while waiting for more conducive times for physical face-to-face meetings in the face of the pandemic.
The statement added that the ‘French Design Corner Middle East’ is “an innovative space dedicated exclusively to interior design professionals and architects in the Middle East”. The platform aims to show the French creative designs with high potential of development in the region and is also dedicated exclusively to design professionals who want to explore a “unique know-how and an exceptional portfolio of brands”.
Frederic Szabo, managing director, Business France Middle East, said: “While waiting for the much-awaited better days more conducive to in-person meetings, entrepreneurs, architects, decorators and interior design professionals can connect virtually through the French Design Corner Middle East, which aims to offers a space to explore exceptional French designers and know more about the French luxury industry, in a short moment of sharing knowledge and enriching experiences for all. This showroom is a digital alternative to a new form of discussion and presentation, as it has been designed to meet the mutual need for proximity between partners in the Middle East and France.”
According to Business France, France was the world’s fourth largest exporter of luxury decorative items in 2019. Even in the Middle East, some French brands are well established in the sector, such as Ligne Roset, Roche Bobois or Lalique, with French design trends remaining attractive in the region, driven by their artistic and technological conceptions and eco-friendly approach.
France is one of the leading players in the design field, with “Made in France” being synonymous with quality, style, and know-how, as proven by many internationally acclaimed labelling associations certifying French excellence, such as Comité Colbert, EPV, Origine France Garantie, France Eclat. Business France added that with its exclusive portfolio covering a wide range of products, from the basic to the most prestigious products, the French Design Corner Middle East showcases tableware, furniture, home linen, decorative items and home accessories.