THÉMA's creative lineup gears up to balance design innovation and responsibility

The global creative community is ever-evolving, reaching more and more people while overstepping and recontextualising extant boundaries. As the realms of contemporary art and design flourish and expand, so do the platforms committed to bridging it to audiences across the world. The inaugural edition of one such cultural platform is set to reign over Parisian streets from October 17 - 21, 2023.

THÉMA, making its debut in the creative landscape, specialises in historical and contemporary design and art, with a committed, inclusive, and sustainable approach. The upcoming design fair aims at dismantling the conventions of traditional trade fairs, in both substance and form—this objective reflects in everything ranging from its designed scenography to its very ethos. THÉMA was founded by Michaël Hadida as an effort geared towards nurturing a space that provides visibility to innovative and responsible creatives through its events, curation, collaborations, and social networks. The sustainable design fair will set up camp at L’Hôtel de Guise in Paris, France, and is set to present a curated roster of contemporary designers and artists from the fields of architecture, arts, and crafts. "With THÉMA, we want to redefine the codes of luxury and creation, in line with an eco-responsible commitment and social ethics. To create value with the will to preserve and respect natural resources and the transmission of know-how, THÉMA is a virtuous circle," Hadida elaborates.

Hadida was raised in a creative family and inherited their avant-garde spirit. His parents founded the world’s first concept store, LECLAIREUR, in 1980, which Hadida took over as CEO in 2018, following his tenure as its development director. Since 2003, he has been committed to fostering an international network of designers, brands, galleries, collectors, and entrepreneurs, envisioning a community that looks in the same direction through their innovations, to define a 'new luxury.' This aim is furthered by the involvement of contemporary artists and designers, who are constantly pursuing creative novelty. In 2020, he opened the first sustainable luxury concept store called THE NORM, bringing together fashion, design, architecture, and visual arts. In 2022, he began a partnership with the Ethical Fashion Initiative at the United Nations to promote local craftsmanship in Côte d’Ivoire and Burkina Faso. Relatedly, Hadida’s passion for an ethical approach to creative pursuits lands home with THÉMA.

Driven by a desire to blend the beautiful with the responsible, THÉMA harbours a community of like-minded creatives united by common values—yielding refreshing aesthetics and works that are sensitive towards the current environmental issues. The curation of contemporary designers and artists from the world of architecture, art, crafts, and fashion conforms with the values of the show as well as the THÉMA Charter which is defined according to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Hadida and Graziella Semerciyan helm the design event as curators, while the scenography is realised by Sophie Dries. THÉMA's debut edition this year includes galleries such as Æquo, Etage Projects, Monument, Objective Gallery and Superhouse, alongside designers and artists such as Coperni, FOS, India Mahdavi, Leo Orta, Olivia Cognet, Rooms Studio and Wendy Andreu. This stellar lineup is complemented by additional special editions and collaborations with Kym Ellery and Serban Ionescu.

The Hôtel de Guise at 72 rue de l’Université in Paris will transform into a hub for the international trade fairs of art and design. The scenographic and narrative spaces will sit in stark contrast against the antiquated charm of the 18th-century mansion, as a captivating dialogue between heritage and the latest technical innovations. Furthermore, the thematic and the presented pieces are called to echo a commitment to act against global warming, social inequities, and well being: THÉMA insists that its participants respect at least one of the seven chosen initiatives, based on the United Nations SDGs. Set to hit the ground running, THÉMA is an initiative that encourages and acts as a tool for creative practices wherein the aesthetic and functional tenets of design coexist with a sense of responsibility for the community and the planet.

THÉMA will be on view from October 17 - 21, 2023, at Hôtel de Guise, 72 rue de l’Université in Paris, France.