Issue #00009 : January 15, 2026

Hello,

The industry descends on Paris this week. And with it, hundreds of new launches and the hopes and dreams of an industry endlessly hoping for a return to the post-Covid boom times.

Paris Design Week opens this week, starting with Paris Déco Off—the rebellious offshoot event that escaped from the monolithic drudgery of the Maison & Objet convention a decade ago. What started as a handful of fabric and wallpaper houses opening showrooms in Saint-Germain has become the most important week on the design calendar.

This is where new collections launch. Where the AD100 walks cobblestone streets with champagne flutes in hand. Where you’re more likely to close a deal over a Burgundy than in a booth at Villepinte.

The “Americans in Paris” party (harder to get into than the Met Gala) happens Thursday night. Every name that matters will be there (except me, I didn’t get an invite).

Maison & Objet still exists, of course. It is a mass market show, with flashes from some select luxury brands. West Elm and Williams Sonoma shop there, but so do thousands of other small retailers from across the globe. The sheer scale of the Villepinte convention center, and the thousands of vendors listed in its directory shows the immense global nature of our business.

But Paris Déco Off is where taste lives, where beauty hasn’t been optimized out of existence by spreadsheets and supply chain consultants. It features the crème de la crème of the industry, surrounded by the beauty of the city.

And here’s Mr Thread’s first ever scoop: Paris Déco Off is about to shake up its leadership, and are actively looking for new blood. Change is coming, and the industry is watching. The current team has done an admirable job running the show, but it feels like fresh blood is needed to inject some new ideas into the show.

Mr. Thread will be walking the shows all week, notebook in hand. Next week: I’ll tell you who said what, who was seen where, and what it all means for your business.

Until then, au revoir.