A Cool Brand Founder & Author Talks Style, Inspiration & More
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I’m most inspired by the great design of the past. That said, it’s all about finding ways to ground it in the present – so you could say I lean towards a slightly heavy mix of antiques and contemporary design. Also, when I moved to Paris after graduate school and decorated my first home, I started looking for things I loved and knew would bring me joy. My approach slowed down and it was then I realised I wasn’t easily swayed by trends. I much prefer to take my time in finding the perfect piece.
I’ve been design-minded since childhood. I’ve always been attracted to decorative objects and spaces and luckily for me, my dad let me paint a mural on my wall when I was in the eighth grade. I have such strong memories of choosing things most people would have thought were over-the-top. I’d say my mother was the first person who introduced me to the concept of design – so she’s been a huge influence on me. In the 1980s she had this amazing walk-in closet and I loved to hide in it and look through her clothes, jewellery and shoes. She loved colour and dragged me to flea markets to teach me that one person’s trash is another person’s treasure. She had an eye and I slowly developed mine, too. Today, my own daughter inspires me a lot – I admire her curiosity and her confidence to try different things. I wish I still have the eyes and mind of a ten-year-old.
During my fashion studies, it was the styles and silhouettes of the post-war years at Christian Dior and Madame Grès that dominated my thoughts. The shapes, the silhouettes, the techniques… I am still so moved by the work from that specific period. Also, studying fashion helped me notice the spaces that fashionable people inhabited – which is what developed my interest in interiors. After working in fashion, I studied the decorative arts to dive more into textiles and fashion history. I learned about design history, cultural and societal history, architecture, antiquity, ceramics, interiors, and we used a methodology called material culture. You look at what’s happening in a certain culture when, and the materials that emerge as a result. It is a fascinating way to learn.
I have a real love affair with France. I live in Paris and love to visit all the different regions – there are plenty I still need to discover. My favourite areas are Provence and the Cote d’Azur. The south of France really inspires me, as it’s home to so many expats and creatives. I think it’s the sun, the ocean, and the relaxed vibe that makes me it the perfect place to clear my thoughts and find fresh inspiration.
My one obsession is antique wine glasses and champagne coupes. I’ve become fascinated with finding different styles and shapes. I love a round bowl, square bowl, shallow bowls, thin stems, bulbous stems, coloured glass… I cannot stop buying them. I love the idea that when people come to your house, everyone will have a different glass.
The book that made the biggest impact on me is Awakening to A New Earth by Eckhart Tolle. I first read it in 2008 when I felt very unsure about what my purpose was. There was a moment when I was listening to it on audio book walking around Paris when he said something about why we hold on to baggage from our past despite trying to live in the present. I bought the book and started underlining it like crazy. He changed my world and made me realise how much mental and vocal space I was giving to things I didn’t like about my life. I barely spoke or thought about what I did want, so I changed that immediately and slowly, my life started to change. Next, I’ll be reading The Idea of You by Robinne Lee.
I have so many favourite restaurants but two current favourites are Le Train Bleu and Le Square Trousseau. At home in the week, I like to cook simple meals (protein and veggies or pasta) and try to get more creative at the weekend. My family loves it when I make oxtail stew, osso bucco, boeuf bourguignon, and bo saam.
I am a keen follower of Vanesa Grall from Messy Nessy Chic – I am love how she thinks and observes cultures, people and spaces, and then makes very thoughtful commentaries about it all. She connects the past and the present in the most intriguing way.
Supply Showroom is one of my favourite places to shop and find inspiration. I really admire the way the team scours the market for prints before hosting events to educate and inspire the designers they love. This desire to inspire visually and emotionally is very inspirational in itself.
Aline Asmar D’Amman is one of my favourite designers. I love her work but I also find her approach to work and life so refreshing. She knows how to appreciate and work with historical references while staying very modern at the same time.
If I could claim one brand for my own it would be Buly. I love the ethos behind the brand and think Ramdane Touhami and Victoire de Taillac are so clever in their approach to branding. I’m equally moved by the product, package design and the experience I have in the stores.
Ajiri’s upcoming book Joie: A Parisian's Guide to Celebrating the Good Life published by Clarkson Potter is out on 18th April. Joie Copyright ©2023 Ajiri Aki Photograph copyright ©2023 by Jessica Antola. Published by Clarkson Potter, an imprint of Random House.
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