Fany, the story of a concept store that celebrates handmade products
In this article
Amateur, quality not always there, sometimes even corny… words that some use to express what they think of handmade. At Fany, we do not agree. Who among us has not already marveled at a creation, a masterpiece made entirely by hand. We tend to underestimate what our ten fingers are capable of doing! "It is (even) because he has hands that man is the most intelligent of animals", said the Greek philosopher Anaxagoras.
My name is Chaymae, and this is how I decided to create Fany, the concept store that celebrates handmade products by talented and committed creators.
A classic route…
It's now five years since I finished business school. My ambition as a young graduate led me to join the Paris office of an international audit and consulting firm. I was made to understand at the time that it was an excellent start to my career. A sort of consecration after five long years of study. I then started working as a financial auditor, then, wanting to evolve into a more operational role, I switched to consulting where I was able to support several companies in improving their customer relations.
…then a quest for more meaning
Years have passed, making me gain experience and maturity. Like many young people of my generation, I began to ask myself questions about my professional future. Am I fully fulfilled? What is the impact of my daily actions? What initiatives can we undertake to limit our impact on the planet? How can we participate in improving, even if only a little, the daily lives of people who need it? In short, a whole bunch of "existential" questions 😀 that quickly turned into subjects of daily reflection.
The trigger
That's when I received a call, one winter evening, from a designer friend who was coming to Paris to participate in the Maison & Objets show, and who asked me to host her. Fascinated by this world myself and happy to see my friend again, I was delighted to welcome her. The few days we spent together were like a turning point.
I admired her ethical approach that values the know-how of Moroccan artisans through the creation of unique objects, designed as timeless pieces. We then had a long discussion about her work, the social impact generated by her approach, as well as the reasons for her success across the Atlantic that had difficulty translating into France, mainly due to a lack of visibility.
A lack of visibility that I found regrettable. As a fan of designer objects, I myself have difficulty finding these original pieces outside of my usual addresses. It is such a shame that items with a soul through the history of their creators and their artisans are so difficult to access.
The Fany idea had just hatched! An online concept store that would bring together a selection of high-quality, handmade items, produced in small series by creators committed to an eco-responsible approach. Handmade, within reach! 😏
Suffice to say that I found in the beginnings of this project the answer to a lot of my “existential questions”, and the cherry on the cake, in a universe that fascinates me.
Adventure, travel, true sources of inspiration
A few months later, I thought about it and decided to devote more time to this project. I then took a six-month sabbatical with my partner (and partner🙂 ) to travel across Latin America. A unique opportunity to take a step back, but also to discover other creators and new know-how.
From Mexico City to Ushuaia, it was a real pleasure to cross paths with local people. A total immersion and unforgettable moments of sharing that allowed us to appreciate the magnificent treasures of this continent and the richness of its cultures. We also had the chance to meet several talented and committed creators during this journey, who shared with us the same observation of lack of visibility.
We then returned to France with clearer ideas about the format that the Fany project would take, a well-filled portfolio of designers and our heads full of memories!
A beautiful story begins
Back in Paris, and after months of confinement and hard work, we gave birth to the Fany concept store, the last details of which we are now refining. Only a few days separate us from its launch on www.fany-store.com . Stay connected!
Looking forward to seeing you in a new post. Until then, take good care of yourself! 😉
Chaymae, Co-founder of Fany
