designchicagomag.com designchicagomag.com THE MART DESIGN CHICAGO 73 72 DESIGN CHICAGO THE MART uring France's financial crisis of 1918, 16-year- old Pierre Frey left school and took a job first as an antique furniture polisher and then as a sales rep for inner hatbands. After his service in World War I, he worked for Burger, a dealer of upholstery fabric, and in 1933 went to work managing sales for Lauer, a company later acquired by Patrick Frey. At Lauer, he met his first partner, the designer Jean Chatanay, and the two would form Chatanay & Frey. From late nights stapling fabric samples together at home, to delivering orders on his bicycle, a passion for textiles and decorative arts grew. In 1935, Pierre Frey bought out his partner, who continued to create beautiful designs for the company, and Maison Pierre Frey was born. Today, the company’s combination of heritage, creativity, and manufacturing expertise sets it apart. Pierre Frey is not only a textile editor but also a family-owned creative house that designs, publishes, and manufactures fabrics, wallpapers, rugs, and furniture, rooted in French decorative arts culture. In 1969, Pierre’s son Patrick took over as artistic director, and the company is now led by a third generation of the Frey family: Vincent Frey is the chief operating officer and Pierre Frey (grandson to the founder) is in charge of global communications. Pierre Frey first entered the American market in the 1950s with their New York showroom, and today, in addition to being available through other brands, they have four standalone showrooms, including their new showroom in THE MART, which opened in March. n D 1935 - Maison Pierre Frey is born Maison Pierre Frey was founded on January 1, 1935, at 47 rue des Petits Champs in Paris, which remains the headquarters for the maison today. Pierre Frey established his textile publishing house with the conviction that textiles are a central element of the art of living—both functional and cultural. THE HISTORY OF PIERRE FREY, NOW IN ITS 91ST YEAR, IS THE HISTORY OF FRENCH DECORATIVE ARTS. W R I T T E N B Y D E B O R A H L . M A R T I N LA VIE EST BELLE Pierre Frey’s newest collection, Jardin à la Française, celebrates the joyful exuberance of the French garden. Based on contemporary floral motifs and archival garden documents, the collection is timeless and full of whimsical allure. Photographed at the 18th century Château d’Aunoy, just an hour outside of Paris and famed for its formal English-style gardens. photography by phillipe garcia PHOTOGRAPHY BY MATTIA AQUILA