This new series, COLLECTIBLE In-Depth, unveil the backstage of contemporary creation. Tackling various topics from personal designer processes to the position of collectible design on the global design market; these COLLECTIBLE In-Depth offer different views to suit all tastes. Today we talk with Polcha.

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COLLECTIBLE: What do you think collectible design brings compared to other more massively produced pieces?

Polcha: Polcha is the link between the climatic anguish that  inhabits sand; the unwavering hope which is within us. We aim to free ourselves from consumption and find a colored freedom. Each piece becomes a unique and precious artwork through the combinations  of materials, colors and Savoir-Faire.

Each piece becomes a unique and precious artwork through the combinations of materials, colors and Savoir-Faire.

C: How did you get into collectible design? Why did you focus your practice on this type of design rather than industrial design?

Polcha: POLCHA is Charlotte Tarbouriech and Pauline Leyravaud.

Our duo is an artistic reflection of the world around us. We imagine collections, frescoes, space, and place design to take you into our dreams and imagination.

The collectible is a unique and customized design platform that allows us to present our work which is handmade in our workshop.

Our pieces are unique and entirely made from recycled materials.

Our approach enforces us to review our entire way of creating, constantly researching new, more natural and responsible techniques and pushing  limits.

C: What have you been up to recently? What are the next projects/exhibitions you wish to highlight?

Polcha: We have just finished designing  a hotel for the Accord group; a new brand called Greet. This range of hotels requires the designers to work with recycled materials and to source vintage furniture. We wanted to meet  the challenge by reusing as much of the original furniture and layout from the hotel as possible.We focused our intervention on color and texture. We wanted to create a maximum effect without adding additional material. We created trompe l'oeils by playing with the material to give new life to existing elements, especially adding a lot of color. Each piece of furniture was sourced second-hand, on Leboncoin, for example, while keeping a unity in the colors and design.

We have just presented  our first exhibition in  Paris at Thomas Erber, and we are working on creating our  third collection which will be focused on our commitments.

We are imposing even more constraints on ourselves to create the pieces,  pushing our  material research,and pictorial techniques presented in Milan.

C: How did the school where you studied influence your practice?

Polcha: Charlotte studied fashion design in Paris at Studio Bercot, and then went on to work  with major fashion houses in Paris, London and Italy. She specialized in shoe design. Charlotte was exhausted with constantly developing samples and life on the road.  It didn’t fit with her core values which was an important aspect to feeling aligned with the work she was doing.

Pauline graduated from  ESAG Penninghen in Paris and won the gold medal in  the Van der Kelen Institute, as an  outstanding technician. She uses her multiple skills: trompe l’oeil, sign painting, eglomerate glass and glass gilding for the creation of frescoes and scenographic scenery. She is always looking for alternative techniques with   the least environmental impact. 

POLCHA was created combining our strengths and conviction, to recycle and create visceral  collections out of it.

About Polcha

POLCHA is the link between the climatic anguish that inhabits us and the unchanging hope that remains within us.

To free ourselves from consumption and find a colored freedom.

To impose a circular production to respect our commitments.

Each piece becomes a unique and precious piece of art through the association of materials, colors and know-how.

POLCHA is Charlotte Tarbouriech and Pauline Leyravaud.

Our duo is a reflection on fashion and pictorial arts,

We imagine collections, frescoes, layouts of places and spaces to bring you into our dreams and our imagination.