Saint Etienne Collection
The SE Collection is made of emblematic objects that symbolise the city of Saint Etienne in France. The city’s industrial landscape including factory chimneys and slag heaps (artificial hills made of the byproducts of the mining industry) is the inspiration for our home accessories.
When walking around the streets of Saint-Etienne, it becomes clear that the city has a rich history. The architecture alone is a testament to its industrial past.
The coal mines of Couriot closed in 1973. For over four centuries, digging mines for coal resulted in excess soil that became hills called slag heaps. The hills, building up over the years, have created a new landscape. Yet, they are composed of natural elements which has allowed nature to grow over it as well as for locals to make it a place for leisure activities and fossil hunting.
In 2002, the factory underwent a conversion and became the City of Design now home to the Higher School of Art and Design. By preserving these buildings the city’s cultural heritage lives on, and part of the industrial landscape of the city is kept intact. In 2010, Saint Etienne was nominated by UNESCO ‘City of Design’ as part of its Creative Cities Network.
