The least we can say is that it was quite a journey to get from Luang Prabang to Paris… Our precious samples in tow we left Luang Prabang on Sunday September 4th. After a quick stop in Vientiane, we headed to Bangkok for a long layover which unexpectedly got extended by a couple of hours (the joys of traveling at the moment…). We finally arrived in Paris 24 hours after we left Luang Prabang…
Lear designed the 2022/2023 Home Decor Collection we presented at the Maison & Objet trade show.
After two and a half years in our Luang Prabang bubble, the hustle and bustle of Paris was a lot to process… It was Lear’s first time setting foot in Europe. If you don’t know Lear, she’s our Head of Design and Production and was the first employee of Ock Pop Tok back in 2000. She designed the 2022/2023 Home Decor Collection we presented at the Maison & Objet trade show and was eager – and a bit nervous – to get feedback from potential buyers.
We’re thankful to the Centre for the Promotion of Imports from developing countries (CBI) for their support for the past three years and for representing us alongside other exporters from Laos, Cambodia, Indonesia and Bangladesh in September 2021 and March 2022 when Lao borders were still closed and we could not travel.
These 10 days in Paris were a great learning experience. We met many people and saw wonderful products.
Their support in Paris at the beginning of the month was also very much appreciated. With the help of a professional designer, they guided us for the set up of our products in the CBI booth. Equipment in hand, they added bars and hooks, all to make our products look good. And they did look good, if we may say so ourselves. See for yourself…
These 10 days in Paris were a great learning experience. We met so many people – potential buyers or just textile lovers – who gave us their professional feedback on our products. Individual customers (the ones we meet in our brick and mortar shops in Luang Prabang) and wholesalers are very different customers who want very different products. It was really interesting for us to discuss wholesalers’ needs and start thinking how we could answer their requests. So much to process now…
Over and above the products themselves, it was great to see the visual merchandising!
The Maison & Objet trade show is HUGE! We walked many many steps and saw many many wonderful products made all over the world. All these colors and textures were so inspiring… We also took a couple of days after the show to visit some home decor shops in Paris. Over and above the products themselves, it was great to see the visual merchandising! So beautiful and appealing! Really inspiring too!
So what’s next, you ask? Well, CBI will once again represent us in the January edition of Maison & Objet. If you’re a potential buyer and are planning to attend, you will see our collection of cushions and wall hangings.
In the meantime, Lear is discussing with her team new color schemes as well as new designs and textures… We can’t wait to get started on our 2023/2024 Home Decor collection! But don’t you worry, we’re not going to change our style completely. What you love about Ock Pop Tok – the bold colors, the motifs and the textures – will remain. We’re just thinking of some tweaks…
What do you think we should do differently? Let us know!
Would you like to be a part of this journey? Drop us a line on [email protected] and let us know what you would like us to work on. It can be to add products (we currently offer rugs, wall art, throws, cushions, table runners and placemats) or it can be to add more textures, or you would like to see some specific colors. In any case, we welcome all feedback so you know what to do…
If you’re a designer or retailer and would like to receive our 2022/23 Home Decor catalog, email us on [email protected]. You can also have a look at our profile on the MOM website.
Our participation to Maison & Objet was made possible with the support of the Centre for the Promotion of Imports from developing countries (CBI) and BAF Laos.
