The World of Atelier Vime: A Renaissance of Wicker and Style

Using natural materials--wicker, osier, rattan, rope--to create exquisite handwoven decorative objects, French lifestyle brand Atelier Vime has redefined luxury.

When Atelier Vime’s cofounders discovered that their eighteenth-century hôtel particulier had previously been a basket-weaving workshop, they dedicated themselves to reviving the vanishing artisanal craft. They replanted willow shrubs, hired local artisans, and designed a contemporary collection of decorative objects with their associate Raphaëlle Hanley. Karl Lagerfeld was an early admirer and, according to Architectural Digest, Atelier Vime swiftly became ＂the industry secret for designers.＂ Today, customers around the world--from private homeowners to notable designers including Pierre Yovanovich, Kelly Wearstler, Aerin Lauder, Jake Arnold, Virginia Tupker, and Beata Heuman--flock to La Maison Vime at Vallabrègues in Provence to source Vime’s unique home furnishings that are handmade in France.

The duo behind Atelier Vime invites readers to discover their idyllic universe in their homes across France, where their unusual color palettes--from periwinkle blue to burnished ocher--offer a striking backdrop for their Medici column vase, woven screens, rope lamps, and rattan furniture. Their personal collections include classical and modern art, antique textiles, Provençal ceramics, and miniature baskets, which are combined with their contemporary creations to form the signature Vime style. Bringing the ancestral savoir faire of basketry into the twenty-first century, using materials and methods that are as sustainable as they are sumptuous, Atelier Vime celebrates an impeccable lifestyle rooted in the synergic relationship between luxurious design and nature.

Marie Godfrain is a freelance design journalist. Benoît Rauzy and Anthony Watson cofounded Atelier Vime, a sustainable French furniture designer.