An Indoor Garden

Van Ceef & Arpels taps on french artist Alexandre Benjamin Navet to evoke an eternal spring in its boutiques

- Joseph Low

What does the word “spring” bring to mind? For many of us here living in eternal summer, it might not mean anything. For those living in temperate climes, it represents renewal or warmth after winter when flowers finally begin to bloom after a long slumber. For Van Cleef & Arpels whose precious jewels are very much inspired by nature, spring is the season. And the maison never fails to celebrate it with a collection of nature-inspired jewels, whether it’s the Frivole or the Two Butterfly collection.

This year, the maison didn’t just welcome the season with blooming jewellery, it made sure selected boutiques around the world were dressed for the occasion too, with the help of French artist Alexandre Benjamin Navet.

Winner of the Grand Prix Design Parade Toulon Van Cleef & Arpels in 2017 (a competition in support of emerging creative talents), Navet is a multidisciplinary artist whose works feature a vibrant palette and spontaneous hand-drawn lines.

Until next year, boutiques from New York to Paris to Moscow and Tokyo will showcase Navet’s artful designs, in their window displays, wallpaper and carpets.

Navet hopes customers will feel like they are “walking through my sketchbook” when they visit the boutiques. Here, he speaks about the collaboration process.

How did this Van Cleef & Arpels collaboration come about?