Ecart

In 1978, at 6 rue Pavée in Paris, Andrée Putman brought her passion for

decorative arts to life by founding Ecart International. The company

was established with a clear mission: to reissue furniture and objects

from historical creators of the early 20th century, many of whom

had been largely forgotten. Located in a showroom set up in a former

warehouse, Ecart International positioned itself as a pioneer in what

it called an “archaeology of modernity.”

From the beginning, Andrée Putman focused on reissuing iconic works

by major names in design and decorative arts, whose timeless ele-

gance contrasted with the dominant aesthetics of the 1980s, charac-

terized by the Memphis Group and Starck’s minimalism. She chose

to revive the creations of Mariano Fortuny, Eileen Gray, Jean-Michel

Frank, Robert Mallet-Stevens, Michel Dufet, Pierre Chareau, and

Jacques-Henri Lartigue, among other influential figures. Guided by a

meticulous eye, aesthetic intuition, and extensive archival research,

she carefully selected furniture, lamps, rugs, and objects from period

reviews and antique dealers. Each piece was analyzed in detail to un-

derstand its mechanisms and functions, allowing it to be revitalized

for contemporary society.

A pioneer in reissues, Andrée Putman was soon joined by Colette Bel,

who took charge of editorial direction and oversaw the development

of reissues at Ecart International. With growing success, Andrée

decided to expand her catalog to include contemporary creators

like Sacha Ketoff, Olivier Gagnère, Naggar and Lachevsky, Sylvain

Dubuisson, and Martin Szekely.

In addition to these editions from contemporary designers, Ecart In-

ternational developed its own creative studio. This in-house studio

allowed the company to design original pieces, enriching its offer-

ings and affirming its vision of timeless modernity.

The company also grew with the creation of an interior design agen-

cy, Ecart. Andrée Putman assembled a small team, including Jean-

François Bodin, to respond to interior design requests from the

fashion world. Bruno Moinard joined during the Thierry Mugler

boutique project at Place des Victoires, where he experienced the

unique atmosphere of the agency, “where the ghosts of Gaudi, For-

tuny, and Eileen Gray linger.”

The name “Ecart,” an anagram of “Trace,” evokes an aesthetic journey

marked by elegance, quality, and restraint.