Drawing inspiration from the art of topiary, Bernard Forestier’s passion for French style gardens including their proportionality, their overall balance and the elegant combination of alternating straight lines and curves developed into a lighting brand. His passion for beautiful things was matched only by his love of the materials.

He sought to bring the botanical arts into the home, including the creation of woven metal wire items, as well as materials as different as rusted metal, zinc or cast iron in order to present new designs, which were always lightweight and well structured, combining poetry with humour. Over time, Forestier made a name for himself thanks to his quest for, and skill in providing, a fragile balance between nature and design including the elegance of its pure styling, or its preference for raw, authentic materials enhanced by the work of the craftsmen.

Ten years after it was founded, the company changed direction following the death of Bernard Forestier. At the request of Hélène Forestier, Gilles Dallière took on the direction of the artistic aspects and showed a willingness to make each item a genuinely unique item. The company began focusing increasingly on luxury and natural items, while displaying a great deal of sobriety. Shapes became increasingly sophisticated, with an increasing focus on lighting and colour without losing that distinctive quality conveyed by the craftsmen’s skill.

In 2012, Hélène Forestier passed the torch to Jean Dominique Leze, to whom we owe the 107 Rivoli decorative arts and the company ENO (Edition Nouveaux Objets, founded with François Bernard in 2006). Along with Gilles Dallière who stayed on as art director, it was his turn to build the company’s expressive identity for the years to come. His challenge was to forge the future without renouncing the past, strengthening the identity and power of the brand, marking out its unique place while also finding new roads ahead.

Over and above the role of design company, Forestier successfully reinvented itself as a creative and poetic brand with design, nature and raw materials its key identity - a brand attaching particular importance to functionality and customer value as part of a responsible approach to its activities.

"A designer product is first and foremost an optimal, attractive, useful, high-quality item which fulfills a specific purpose. Its design must remain simple in order to enhance the shape, the material appearance, the technological know-how and the skills of craftsmen," explained Jean Dominique Leze.

As key features of the Forestier catalogue, lighting and its environment seem more relevant than ever. Unusual tools and solutions, new technology (solar and LED, etc.) combine with new forms of know-how to convey the poetic and aesthetic spirit so dear to Forestier.

"And what could be more attractive in a home than an elegant and practical lamp which is also environmentally friendly, meeting the energy objectives which we embrace today?"

"It is to these recognised or emerging talents that we have conferred the task of creating specific items enjoying a strong identity but always at affordable prices."

Today Forestier works with well-known designers such as Arik Levy - Sebastian Bergne - Laurence Brabant - Emmanuel Gallina - Christian Ghion et Basile Huez - Normal Studio - Ionna Vautrin - Noé Duchaufour-Lawrence – Elise Fouin - Nicolas Daul et Julien Demanche - Neil Poulton

"To anticipate the near future and to sketch out solutions to emerging problems, to capitalise on everything that has made the company so unique, conveying our difference using the resources of tomorrow."