Design Profile:
Paris House.
Key People:
Sharon Paris (The Boss), Marian Chait (My right hand man).
Location:
Wellington, New Zealand.
Bio/Company History:
The name Paris House was originally created by my grandfather, Cohus Paris in 1934 for his jewellery business. My father, a watchmaker continued his father’s tradition until his death in 2002. It is with a sense of pride and commitment that I continue the legacy of care and quality associated with the Paris House name. In 2007 I present you with wallets that fuse wit and daily function.
What drives you?
A person with honesty
A brand with dignity
Making people smile
Competition
Money (can I say that out loud?)
Inspiration:
Art. Art is everything and everything else is everything else.
(Thankfully art is a very broad term)
What are you doing when you don’t do this?
What… who has time to do other things? Do you want me to have a social life as well or a hobby? This is enough for me, if I have spare time I like to do nothing, nothing is so nice.
I was going to join facebook but when I saw that some people have 300+ friends I decided not to bother, too much pressure to be popular. (Anyway I must have wasted 5 hours looking through facebooks of people I don’t know- as you can see I don’t use spare time wisely.)
Black or White?
White.
Meat or Vege?
Is chocolate classified as a meat or vegetable?
If you could spend a day with anyone, who would it be and why?
Santa - because we could go everywhere.
Best day in your life so far? Why?
Nothing is coming to mind- perhaps you should ask me again in 5 years and I may have done something significant by then.
Mac or PC?
Mac.
Married/Single Kids/Pets?
Officially I am without pets but I told the car hire company in America that I am a pet lover so that I could get a 10% pet lovers discount (crazy American’s) so depending on who asks I may have a dog I love called Foxy.
Describe yourself in 5 words (or less)
Prickly on the outside.
Recent Media:
PULP Magazine:
Fashion Medicine
"The newest collection from NZ design company Paris House is based around themes of medicine and art... With each collection, Paris House donates ten percent of their profits to a worthy cause, this time Wellington's Malaghan Institute, which focuses on finding cures for cancer arthritis, asthma and MS."
NotCot:
July 06
“Some people inherit money, others inherit a company name to carry on with - the unique part here is that as the company changed hands, the business did as well. What began with her grandfather as a jewelry store has grown and evolved through the years. I love companies where the philosophies are well grounded in the passions of the owners/workers. And the Paris House seems to have understood and embodied this notion whole heartedly from day one..."
Idealog:
Feb. 06
Show Me the Money
“Art is everything and everything else is everything else, says Sharon Paris. If success is turning some of that everything into something that pays, Paris is on her way… These wallets have enough beauty and attitude to belong to a movie star…."
