Aire meets TIPTOE! TIPTOE is that iconic French decor brand. A company that changed our relationship with modularity. TIPTOE places environmental responsibility at the heart of its approach. Discover TIPTOE’s vision in sustainable furniture.
How did Matthieu and Vincent meet, and how did they enter the world of sustainable furniture?
TIPTOE was founded in 2015 by Matthieu Bourgeaux and Vincent Quesada.. Matthieu He comes from a family of entrepreneurs in the Chamonix valley in Haute-Savoie. They run a metal turning company that still produces essential parts for TIPTOE products. There is a real family story that continues to this day.
Vincent quickly joined Matthieu on the project. They met at EM Lyon business school. He trained in investment banking and has always been drawn to photography and aesthetics, especially art.
What sustainable furniture do you produce?
TIPTOE is a sustainable furniture brand, 100% made in Europe. Our mission is to manufacture well-designed, well-made, and long-lasting sustainable furniture. We revisit all iconic household items with a new vision so they last a very long time and are made from well-sourced and recycled materials whenever possible.
We started with a modular table leg featuring a clamp system that allowed for quickly creating a table with any type of top. Then, it evolved into a broader furniture brand. We now offer the SSD chair: Simple, Solid, and Durable, stools, shelves, a new table, and a sofa.
Can you describe your process for creating sustainable furniture?
We focus on design. We believe that for an object to be durable, it must be thoughtfully considered at every stage of the value chain. This starts with our product team doing extensive research and design, materials selection, and manufacturing.
The creation process lasts between 6 months and 1.5 years. Each product is truly refined in terms of design and material choice. We work only with companies in Europe for the manufacturing of our objects.
The product team then takes over to create the storytelling around the product launch. They explain its creation, inspirations, and organize photo shoots to showcase the object and promote it on our website, social media, and press.
Where are your materials located in Europe?
It all depends on the type of material we need. We really go where the best expertise is. We also go to Belgium. or in France for wood and in Eastern Europe (Bulgaria, Romania) for steel. Part of the components of our objects come from Matthieu’s family factory specialized in metal turning.
Do you think TIPTOE will need to reinvent itself, especially with the pandemic we are going through?
The pandemic reinforced our approach. People are seeking a lifestyle with more meaning and a deeper reflection on their consumption. This has always been at the core of TIPTOE’s DNA. Offering durable furniture is still quite rare in the sector. We are truly aligned with the awareness that arose during the pandemic. Confined people wanted to create a pleasant living space with objects they really love.
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In your opinion, do decoration and consequently furniture impact our moods and well-being?
Yes, absolutely. A well-arranged room contributes to our well-being. I believe you should surround yourself with objects you truly love and have chosen. TIPTOE products can accompany people throughout their lives.
Can you explain your eco-responsible approach?
This approach has been at the heart of the brand project from the start. We established 5 principles for sustainable design that will guide the entire creation of our objects:
- Create simple objects : Here, function comes first.
- Do a lot with few : Creating objects with very clear lines that we can deconstruct or recycle.
- Using the right materials : Steel, one of our main materials, is the most recycled material in the world. We increasingly use recycled plastic for our tops or for the SSDR chair. We always try to innovate in material use and find ever more durable materials.
- Creating to last : Our objects must be sturdy to accompany people throughout their lives.
- Thinking about deconstruction : Having a vision of the object throughout its life cycle. Our chair, for example, is made of five parts, and if it gets damaged or worn, there’s no need to throw it away—you can replace a part. So you can also recycle each part of the object separately.
What is your cult object?
Our iconic object is TIPTOE’s first: the table leg. It allows you to create a unique table either with the tops we already have or with our own tops. It comes in many colors. With 4 legs, you can make a small console, and if you move one day, you can reuse them to make a dining table. There’s really this idea of support throughout life. It has a very recognizable look and has remained the brand’s flagship object from the start. We are very proud of it.
Finally, what do you think about the Pegboard and modular design? Should we prefer a single-function object? Or does multifunctionality offer solutions that fit our lifestyles?
We like objects to be multifunctional. That’s the DNA of TIPTOE. It’s also the DNA of the table leg we created. Function plays a very important role in TIPTOE objects, so if it can be multiple, even better. We see this, for example, with our LOU stool that our community loves. It’s primarily a seat, but customers also use it as a decorative object.
Feel free to check out our latest article: Studio Ammo
Interview conducted by Clara Didier
Layout by Coralie Mottu
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