Irène Da Costa-Bertrand & Aleksandra Vallarnaud

IREALE

Upholsterer

Upholding the past

Iréale restored a velvet upholstered throne for the Sultan of Bahrain
They work for hotels, individuals, designers, decorators and antique dealers
They like to challenge themselves to surpass their own limits

Aleksandra Vallarnaud and Irène Da Costa-Bertrand of IREALE restore furniture and make decorative and artistic accessories for interiors. Using high quality materials and drawing on their extensive expertise, they reupholster pieces of furniture to bring them back to their original glory. They do everything by hand to the most exacting standards. In their workshop in Paris, large windows look out onto the street, allowing passers-by to peek inside and see the artisans in their element. People stop and look and even come in to ask questions: “I like to show young children the work and let them touch the fabrics so they can get to know the craft,” says Aleksandra.

Interview

What do you most enjoy about your craft?: The heritage and traditional aspect, the materials, how they feel and the ability we have to give them a form; to give life to a chair, for example. We also love challenges and have been fortunate enough to work on some exceptional projects.
Do you think your craft is in danger?: There is a trend towards imported and machine-made furniture. The younger generation is more interested in contemporary over traditional design, which is precisely why we are holding on to it. Fortunately, there are still many people who appreciate our work and understand its value.
What keeps you hopeful for the future of your craft?: When a young person comes to ask us to reupholster his grandmother’s armchair, it’s a very rewarding aspect of our work. When they are happy with the result and sometimes even have tears in their eyes, it’s emotional for all of us.
What are people surprised to find out about your work?: All the work that has to be done inside an armchair before it is covered with fabric. We share photos of each stage to show our respect for the rules of the craft. We hope others will appreciate the work we do and see its value, the hours it takes to get to the final stage.

Irène Da Costa-Bertrand & Aleksandra Vallarnaud are expert artisans: they began their career in 1994