French Design Forum showcases bespoke craftsmanship on 15 March
The French Trade Commission in the UK, in partnership with Rabih Hage, the famous architect and interior designer, will present 15 bespoke craftsmen from France at the Design Forum - a unique event to be held at Chandos House, in Central London, between 9.30am and 6.30pm on 15 March 2011. Members of the press are invited to visit the event in the company of Rabih Hage and his fellow designers. For the third consecutive year, in partnership with Rabih Hage, the French Trade Commission in London will be hosting a conference on bespoke interiors with top international designers and renowned speakers from across the industry. The event will offer a unique environment in which architects and designers can discover original craftsmanship and find new business partners. As part of the event on 15 March 2011, a round-table discussion, which will be held from 10.00am onwards, will seek to foster bespoke projects, while encouraging the participating designers and craftsmen to discover new ways of working together. Questions surrounding collaboration between craftsmen and designers will be discussed and debated by a carefully selected panel of design professionals such as Vanessa Brady, Eléanore Halluitte from META, Rabih Hage and Noé Duchaufour-Lawrance. This panel will be chaired by design connoisseur Max Fraser. VIP seats for the Forum are available on request by contacting Ms Agathe Barbier at the French Trade Commission (on ). The French Design Forum is open to press and industry professionals by invitation only, with a limited number of places available. Interviews with speakers at the event can be arranged on request.  The participating designers are listed below; further details are available on request.  123 Matières123 Matières specialises in decorative mineral coatings for floors and walls. The company manufactures and distributes earth, clay, lime and cement coatings. Founded in 1995, 123 Matières uses age-old processes. The company also creates natural coconut, stone and pearl coatings. 123 Matières has been selected by the French government as a Living Heritage Company (Entreprise du Patrimoine Vivant, or EPV). For further information, please go to:  Atelier Jean-Yves Le Bot The Atelier Jean-Yves Le Bot, which was founded in 1981, restores and conserves furniture. The company respects the traditional ethics and rules of conservation, and works for both private-sector and institutional clients. Clients include museums, regional cultural affairs departments, the Ministry of Culture, and Mobilier National, which is the French institution for conserving furniture. Atelier Jean-Yves Le Bot has been selected by the French government as a Living Heritage Company (EPV). For further information, please go to:  Ateliers Bataillard Ateliers Bataillard specialises in fine decorative ironwork. The company produces a wide range of bespoke pieces, as well as original Ateliers Bataillard design pieces. Clients include well-known interior designers, large private-sector companies, as well as public-sector entities, which the company assists with the restoration of listed items. Atelier Bataillard, which was founded in 1901, manufactures bannisters, railings, doors, light fittings and furniture. Atelier Bataillard has been selected by the French government as a Living Heritage Company (EPV).For further information, please go to: Ateliers PintonThe original Pinton mill was created in 1867. Today, the company specialises in bespoke carpets and tapestries. Its activity is divided into two types of production - tapestry weavings and hand-knotted rugs on the one hand, and hand-tufted carpets and rugs on the other. Design remains an important activity for the company.  The mill works with contemporary artists and designers to create ever more striking patterns. The client's imagination sets the limit as to what Ateliers Pinton can create, the company explains.  Ateliers Pinton has been selected by the French government as a Living Heritage Company (EPV).For further information, please go to:  Bronzes de France Bronzes de France has been manufacturing exclusive fine decorative hardware for over 100 years. The company has developed technologies that allow for the adaptation of existing designs, as well as the creation of new designs for international clients who are looking for unique pieces. A number of well-known designers have created their own collections in collaboration with Bronzes de France. One such example is the Las Cases collection, which was created by India Mahdavi. For further information, please go to:  Billards Chevillotte Billards Chevillotte has been designing and making billiard tables since 1860. Today, Chevillotte is a reference in this very specific sector and has demonstrated its capacity for innovation in design and functionality. The company's unique expertise is illustrated both in the restoration of the traditional bill