The third edition of MATTER and SHAPE, held this past weekend in the Jardin des Tuileries during Paris Fashion Week, confirmed the fair’s rapid growth as a fixture on the international design calendar. Expanding to more than 70 exhibitors, the salon explored the theme of scale, considering not only the physical dimensions of objects but also the relationships between materials, bodies, and environments in contemporary design.
Across the exhibitors, collaborations between fashion, craft, and industrial production set the tone. Ann Demeulemeester’s collection with Serax translated the label’s dark romantic sensibility into porcelain, lighting, and furniture, while Julie Kegels partnered with Cour to upholster sculptural seating with repurposed vintage leather jackets. Italian manufacturer Acerbis presented pieces reflecting its legacy of experimental modernist furniture, and London-based Completedworks expanded its sculptural language beyond jewelry into furniture and objects crafted from recycled and renewable materials.
Other booths examined design at an architectural scale. Crosby Studios collaborated with Bocci to present the 22 System, a modular electrical interface integrated directly into architectural surfaces, while French designer Axel Chay showed tactile furniture pieces emphasizing material clarity and structural simplicity.
A dedicated fragrance area added a sensory dimension to the fair. Among its highlights was the installation by Byredo, presenting a collaboration with Iittala that paired sculptural Nordic glass vessels with candles and fragrances, merging glassmaking tradition with contemporary scent design.
Architecture shaped the fair itself. JA Projects transformed the garden into two pavilions that framed the exhibitions while responding to the historic setting. A reading room developed with Villa Hegra featured USM furniture reinterpreted by Saudi artist Badr Ali, while the MATTER and SHAPE shop presented a curated selection of collectible and functional design objects.
Visitors also moved between installations and dining spaces, including SCALE by Balbosté and the STEREO BAR by Bang & Olufsen with a menu by chef Frederik Bille Brahe. Dreamin’ Man café returned in collaboration with Zara Home offering hojicha lattes and pastries on a garden terrace.
Overall, MATTER and SHAPE demonstrated how contemporary design increasingly operates across material, spatial, and sensory scales, where objects, interiors, and even scent contribute to a broader cultural landscape.
