Ladies & Gentlemen,
For the past months we’ve been trying to keep a secret from you that we can no longer hide! It is now with immense pride and honor that we announce the opening of our first official shop in the center of Paris!
Our boutique, at 7 rue de l’Odéon in the 6th arrondissement started off as a bookstore at the beginning of the 20th century. On November 15th, 1915, at the young age of 23, a woman by the name of Adrienne Monnier, daughter of a modest postman, opened her bookstore called ‘La Maison des Amis des Livres’. One of the first book shops to be owned and held by a woman. Her main desire was to share the literature of her time.
In 1919, Sylvia Beach, an American librarian and editor, joined Adrienne on that same street and opened her own bookstore specialised in English and American literature: ‘Shakespeare and Company‘.
The two became partners and their relationship sparked the interest of many intellectuals struck by the women’s determination in their quest to share literature with fellow Parisians ; share the knowledge and passion of the books they were offering. Adrienne devoted her life to her store until her death in 1955.
Over the years Adrienne’s bookstore changed and even turned into an art gallery. The facade has always remained the same. The passion is perpetuated as Sébastien and Valentina spent months restoring and renovating the interiors. Sanding wooded floors, repainting the walls, and creating custom shelves, all in the hope of recapturing the original essence of the place. With the help of Sébastien‘s’ brother Patrice (decorative painter @patricenobile) specialised in decorative ecological painting, our desire was to use only natural based products such as lime-wash paint, marble and plaster, so that the store corresponds entirely to our project and ideology.
So, after months of hard work, we can now proudly say that the place that once belonged to “the short-haired girl with big ideas” as the press described Adrienne, is now our home. We will be show casing our unique handblown, recycled glass designs, but not only ! You will also discover our new terra cotta pieces, a special edition of plaster artwork that represent a piece of history from the 6ème arrondissement which we are now in, and freshly hand poured candles.
We’ll be scheduling workshops and ateliers such as candle making, plaster making, cocktail making but also parties and gatherings to bring everyone together around a fabulous mouth-blown Tulipe or Ice Tea Venezia… Your call!
Speaking of which… If you happen to be in Paris this September, consider this your official invitation to come by our shop at 7 Rue de l’Odéon, 75006 and discover this next exciting chapter in the adventures of La Soufflerie boutique.
See you soon!!!
