Maison&Objet Future On Stage: DISCOVER THE NEXT GENERATION…

Drobe

What it is: A suitcase that unfolds into a wardrobe
Made in: Oslo

The brand’s story: While vacationing in Portugal with two friends, Milla Lack noticed their rental apartment strewn with half-unpacked clothes and suitcases. She wondered why travelers always have to adapt to their suitcase. As we travel more frequently for shorter durations, space is often limited, and trips too brief to fully unpack. Milla studied luggage design over the past hundred years, starting with iconic mail trunks created to transport numerous personal belongings without constraints. During the 20th century, the rise of train and air travel brought size and weight limitations, simplifying luggage to the point of losing the original intent: carrying your wardrobe. With these reflections in mind and after completing her studies in industrial design, Milla launched Drobe Luggage to suit modern travel habits. In 2023, she unveiled Drobe and won the European Product Design Award.

At first glance, it looks like a traditional suitcase, but when opened, its ingenuity and versatility are revealed. Unlike other suitcases with two shells, Drobe features multiple modular compartments: a wardrobe and blocks for sorting clothes by type, with a top section easily accessible without opening the whole suitcase during travel. It is designed for durability: parts can be replaced or repaired, the plastic is recyclable, and the leather is certified eco-friendly. Made in Europe (80% in Norway), the product draws inspiration from iconic industrial designs. Its sleek look is matched by a revolutionary vertical rail-opening system. Far from the standard shell-with-retractable-handle format—though those basics remain—Drobe enters a new luxury luggage market segment.

The innovative idea: A luggage system that evolves with the traveler. With silent wheels and a one-handed push-button opening/closing system, Drobe is the only suitcase of its kind.

The flagship product: Buyers can fully customize their suitcase online: colors, accessories, and interior layouts can all be adapted to their needs. The cabin-size version is currently the most popular.

The buzz factor: Word of mouth. The concept is so intuitive that showing it once is enough to win people over. South Korea is currently the most enthusiastic market.

THE INTERVIEW

What makes Drobe revolutionary?
Milla Lack: The main innovation is the patented vertical rail-opening system. We’re not far from the retractable handle, yet the vertical opening, which allows full deployment and one-click access, was a major challenge with no room for compromise. The mechanism had to remain lightweight. Another invention: modular add-ons like camera inserts or full-length hanging compartments—there’s a wide range that offers travelers unparalleled convenience.

What are you preparing for the Future On Stage pavilion?
M.L.: A vanity case. Designed for efficiency, adaptability, and organization—just like its big sister suitcase—it will lay the foundation for a complete rethink of storage. I hope to present it in September!

What’s next?
M.L.: The next step is to develop medium (M) and large (L) versions with the same innovative principles and a new four-level shelving system for optimal organization during long-distance travel. I’m also working on a mini Drobe for low-cost flights.

drobeluggage.com

Yüssée

What it is: Immersive culinary creations
Made in: Paris

The brand’s story: Luminous jelly, ice-dyed fruit enzymes, tie-dye lotus petals, or pebble bread inspired by the calanques—all custom culinary creations by designer Yuan Yuan are poetic and immersive. In 2024, with 10 years of experience, she partners with Cédric Guennoc to launch Yüssée: a series of immersive tasting ritual boxes inspired by the five senses and the Chinese seasons, in harmony with nature. Yüssée—an evocative blend of Chinese and French—echoes "wu xíng" (the five elements), reflecting the brand’s philosophy: nature, lifestyle, flavors, colors, and textures from Chinese and French cultures. In France since 2006, Yuan Yuan studied at the Beaux-Arts in Marseille. She blends her Eastern heritage with luxury expertise honed at Louis Vuitton, where she designed store furniture and objects. Cédric left his career in sustainable development and CSR in the banking sector to fully commit to Yüssée.

Yuan Yuan honed her skills under two mentors: her father, a fruit and vegetable carving chef who taught her cooking and the links between food and Chinese medicine; and Marc Brétillot, a pioneer of culinary design, whom she met at the University of Reims. She collaborates with chefs like Lilian Bonnefoi and Aurélien Rivoire, and institutions like the Martel Foundation and IFF. Incubated by Ateliers de Paris, she works from her studio in Paris’s 13th district, where a 3D printer sits beside kitchen tools. Combining modern technology, traditional craftsmanship, and various artistic techniques, she creates designs that ethereally integrate the changing qualities of natural (organic and vegan) foods and dyes, producing emotionally rich culinary experiences. No permission needed to taste.

The innovative idea: An immersive experience for all senses: perfect-touch packaging, dreamlike flavors, ambient music for hearing, and serene scents.

The flagship product: The lotus box represents sensory and spiritual awakening. It comes with a booklet and cards to guide the user through a ritual.

The buzz factor: Winning the 1st Innovation Prize under the "Fabriqué à Paris" label gave the brand “a nice boost.”

THE INTERVIEW

What makes Yüssée revolutionary?
Yuan Yuan and Cédric Guennoc: It’s a sensory and experiential approach. We didn’t expect to win the innovation prize; we had only applied for the label. But the prize confirmed the potential for a wider rollout of our "gourmet floral creations", which were just waiting for the spotlight. Our immersive sensory experiences awaken the senses and reinforce emotion—like a wish you give yourself.

What are you preparing for the Future On Stage pavilion?
Y.Y. and C.G.: We’ll present a new sensory box containing a flower sculpted from plant-based leather (made from fruits, vegetables, spices, and fermentation). It will be edible, meaningful, and accompanied by soundscapes to inspire positive intentions in both body and mind.

What’s next?
Y.Y. and C.G.: We’ll create more floral box variations, either unique or thematic. We plan to broaden our customer base—until now mainly businesses (spas, hotels, beauty/wellness institutes, private events, or sensory team-building)—to the general public via high-end concept stores.

yussee.com

Hilo

What it is: Modular shelves with no drilling
Made in: Monaco

The brand’s story: Renters love their security deposits—as did Adeline Michelotti, who needed to furnish her Paris apartment without making holes in the walls. "Aside from taped picture frames, I couldn’t hang anything!" The young woman from Nice completed her industrial design education entirely in public institutions: a BTS in Toulon, a DAS in Marseille, and a Master’s in Engineering and Design at the University of Evry. She began freelancing for Ligne Roset, Roche Bobois, Montblanc, Diptyque, and Nature & Découvertes while also seeking a home décor solution. "No brand offered anything like this, so I took the leap!" She studied 1950s shelving systems with vertical rods and adjustable feet, and reimagined the concept for easier installation and nearly infinite modularity. She envisioned a tension-based system with a gas strut—like in office chairs—instead of a spring, to support vertical pressure and load weight. A pedal click deploys and locks the mechanism.
Originally named "From Floor to Ceiling", the concept became Hilo in 2023—a name that visually reflects the product and is easy to pronounce globally. After three years of R&D, the combined bar offers adjustable height from 1 to 2.7 meters. Backed by a Monaco-based investor, Hilo develops around three principles: durability, elegance, and strength. The tension-locking aluminum anodized multi-structure installs in 5 minutes, can be moved instantly, and flexibly adapts even as room dividers. Fully modular, it fits any space. The team now includes two more members handling communication, patent filings, and supplier management. And yes, Adeline got her security deposit back!

The innovative idea: Designed for both individuals and professionals, Hilo offers infinite combinations by adjusting bars, blocks, and modules. The system blends design, sustainability, and adaptability.

The flagship product: Bathroom modules—because drilling into tile is tricky. Also, high demand for configurations as decorative partitions, even for kitchen islands.

The buzz factor: Great media coverage in Marie-Claire Maison and Le Journal de la Maison.

THE INTERVIEW

What makes Hilo revolutionary?
Adeline Michelotti: Simply because it didn’t exist before! In the 1950s, there were lamps and bookshelves supported by vertical rods with adjustable feet. I reinvented the idea, made it easier to install, and introduced modularity—a single module can serve different functions depending on placement. Innovation is often a cycle. The attachment mechanism—connecting modules—was the biggest challenge. With an engineer’s help, we made many prototypes to develop something affordable.

What are you preparing for the Future On Stage pavilion?
A.M.: After consoles, catchalls, lights, and towel racks, I’m designing a bookshelf where modules are positioned between the bars rather than in front. I hope it’ll be ready for the show!

What’s next?
A.M.: I want to explore bathroom concepts and coworking spaces. And why not collaborations? I’d love to make Hilo compatible with a speaker or TV brand. The modular nature makes endless evolutions possible.

hilo.mc

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