About the unique collaboration between La Maison du Pastel and Krepel
One of the best things about our work is that we get to cooperate with all kinds of special companies from all over Europe. For example, we are proud of the unique collaboration we recently started with the French company La Maison du Pastel. Owners and artisans Isabelle Roché and Margaret Zayer produce high quality and handmade pastels for artists. They needed premium packaging for gift sets or bespoke palettes, and this is where we came in. We talk to Isabelle and Margaret about their company and the cooperation with Krepel.
About La Maison du Pastel
Meet the oldest pastel manufacturer in the world! The Story of La Maison du Pastel starts at the beginning of the 18th century, a time when working with pastels was very much in fashion. Artists such as Quentin de la Tour, Chardin and Rosalba Carriera contributed to its notoriety, and the pastels produced in Paris were renown throughout Europe. Chemist Henri Roché took over a French art materials manufacturer in 1879 and revolutionized it, creating the Roché pastels that became renown worldwide for their specific qualities. Today, more than 1900 pastel nuances are available to artists.
La Maison du Pastel is a very interesting company with an amazing history! Why did you decide to ask Krepel to produce the wooden packaging for some of your products?
Margaret: “Our history is indeed quite extensive, full of highs and lows, and can sometimes be traced by its packaging! We are currently on an upswing, and therefore the demand for the house-finished boxes we have been making and selling for years began to outstrip our capacity. Following a request for a potentially significant order, we went on the hunt for potential suppliers who would be reliable and meticulous in their work. We decided to contact Krepel after seeing the variety and quality of finishes they offered for a number of other notable companies.”
What types of pastels come in the wooden packaging made by Krepel?
Isabelle: “We offer these boxes as an upgrade option to customers offering gifts or creating bespoke palettes, as well as for the setting of certain half-stick sets.”
How did you come up with the design of the box?
Margaret: "These boxes were directly inspired by models we sold from the late 19th and early 20th centuries that were either branded or embossed with our signature dragon.”
How do you describe your collaboration with Krepel?
Isabelle: “The experience of working with Krepel is everything we could have hoped for, and more. They have been consummate professionals at every level, from prompt and reliable communication to the careful packaging of our boxes. We appreciated their interest in our project, attentiveness towards our needs, and the initiatives they took to make suggestions and recommendations when it came to approving prototypes.” Margaret: “We would absolutely recommend Krepel to other companies!”
