We may not be able to travel right now, but it sure is a treat to read about one’s daily life in a city that we absolutely love: Paris. Home to one of our most cherished designers, Sigolène Prébois and Chatherine Lévy of Tsé & Tsé Associées Paris, the design duo invite us into their home and working studio.

A well thought out product is the result of a designer who creates something that is essential and beautiful, or in Sigolène’s words: a good idea will make us dance for joy. The vibrancy of Sigolène and her passion for creativity seeps through and into her products, each filled with dynamicism, including functionality, charm and longevity. The kind of characteristic you would seek out in a friend for life. And that’s what Tsé & Tsé is, really — the life of the party, extremely loyal and a fantastic daily companion.

Can you tell us about your working space, and some of your favourite attributes here?

Ohhhh, don’t ask me about my studio, I am completely mad in love with it! It is an old industrial building, hidden in the back of a Parisian yard. It is made of poor material and a bit destroyed, but full of stories and very charming. It is very practical for us to not be inside walls that are too clean, because we can do prototypes, we can work, we can mould, carve, sand down or paint without any fear for our environment. The building has already been through much worse. The wooden floor has been repaired here and there with nailed-in metal patches and we liked it so much that we continued to do the repairs in this way.

What are some fundamental requirements you consider when developing a new product?

Today, I still try to conceive in conscience, asking myself a few questions: Is it necessary? Beauty and joy are necessary for life. Is it well done? Never with elves-slaves, nor with problematic materials. I like that my objects are made from materials that live and acquire a patina over the years. It is also very important to me that these items are repairable. Usually, a good idea makes us dance for joy. To define it is another matter that I continue to think about.

Our moto is we cannot know what other people like, we can only be totally sincere and do what we dream of. And then, maybe, other people will like it also.

Does Tsé & Tsé have a studio practice ethos, something you aspire to when working as a team, or in collaboration with craftsmen?

For the past 30 years, I have built my company in a very autarky way; Catherine (my partner) and I wanted to paint our environment in the colour we liked. So, we designed every object we used. (We also made our clothes, but we never wanted to join the fashion world, because they are wolves). Our moto is we cannot know what other people like, we can only be totally sincere and do what we dream of. And then, maybe, other people will like it also. Perhaps, our sincerity is the secret to Tsé & Tsé's success. We often joke that designers or architects should always use what they design!

What are some of your own personal favourites from the collection you have experienced, and why?

For more than 20 years, the April vase has never left the houses in which we have lived, each on our side. We eat from our hungry porcelain dishes and they has been doing us very well for almost as long. We create objects for the pleasure of living with them on a daily basis, so then, to this question we answer: all of our objects!

Can you tell us about how you like to enjoy the local offerings in Paris?

We love Paris because it is home and we feel good here. Because the population is relatively mixed, compared to other cities. Because between the museums, the walks, the markets, the cafes and the cinemas, there are many beautiful things to see, to hear, to taste. We have been in the east of Paris since our studies, our design school was located not very far from where we are. It was traditionally the district of furniture makers, as in our building, and we continue the tradition.

But the real reason for our attachment to this corner of Paris is the proximity to Place d'Aligre where almost every morning there is an unpacking of bric-a-brac where we like to rummage. This comes after meeting at the counter of our favourite cafe and an outside mixed foods market where many nationalities coexist and where we do all of our shopping.

Mon-Fri	10AM–4PM
Saturday	10AM–4PM
Sunday	10AM–4PM

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