French Houses of Excellence: redefining luxury today
Monday 19 January —
15:00
- 15:45
The Talks — Hall 3
Description
France is a land of exceptional craftsmanship, with its great Maisons serving as both guardians and standard-bearers. Take, for example, two such maisons that have stood the test of time. What is the key to their success? Meeting contemporary demands and adapting without losing their soul or original spirit. The result is unanimous recognition, showcasing and elevating French savoir-faire on the global stage.
Nos partenaires : ITALIAN TRADE AGENCY
Participants
Alexia Leleu CEO & Founder - Maison LELEU
Philippe Courtois CEO - Philippe Hurel
Olivier WachéJournalist
Alexia Leleu
CEO & Founder - Maison LELEU
In 2018, at 32, Alexia Leleu revived Maison LELEU, a historic French luxury décor brand with clients including Marilyn Monroe, Yves Saint Laurent, and royals. Leaving a career in pharmaceuticals, she trained in art history, graphic design, and interior design. Maison LELEU now creates bespoke furniture, lighting, and rugs from archival designs and new creations like the Mava armchair for the Élysée. Collaborating with Cartier, Piaget, Lanvin, and Cheval Blanc Paris, Alexia blends heritage and modernity. Each piece is signed, numbered, crafted in noble materials, and certified on blockchain.
Philippe Courtois
CEO - Philippe Hurel
For 25 years, Philippe Courtois has worked in the fine crafts sector, specializing in heritage restoration and high-end decoration. Since the early 2000s, he contributed to the growth and development of the ATELIERS De FRANCE Group, notably from New York between 2013 and 2020, before leaving the company in 2024. Closely connected with many leading interior designers in France and the USA, he has managed and overseen numerous major projects for names such as Pierre Yovanovitch, Jacques Grange, Jacques Garcia, Studio KO, and Peter Marino. For the past year and a half, Philippe Courtois has been leading PHILIPPE HUREL, one of the last remaining French houses of traditional cabinetry. Their creations can be found everywhere, from luxury boutiques to the most exclusive private projects.
Olivier Waché
Journalist
A journalist for over 25 years, Olivier Waché specializes in the worlds of home, decoration, design, and lifestyle, and has worked for numerous publications including The Good Life, Femme Actuelle, Résidences Décoration, and Maison Créative. A former Deputy Editor-in-Chief of Ideat magazine, he now collaborates with a wide range of titles such as Madame Figaro, À Vivre, Art & Décoration, Geste/s, and Le Journal de la Maison. An observer of the evolving living environment, he has authored two books for VIA in the Domovision collection. In 2014, he founded WOC, a writing house that provides high–value content and strategic advice to professionals, including PR agencies, brands, artisans, and architects.