COQ x Darris: An interview with Pauline AVINIO

Now on sale on our website, the collection of COQ x Darris bags was born from the collaboration between the hotel and the brand. Here’s an interview with the designer.

Can you tell us a little about the Darris brand?

I created Darris in 2015 but I have been designing since childhood. At age 3, I was already dreaming of getting my own brand of leather goods.

I travel a lot. I love going to London or the other European capitals to get inspired by architecture and decor, such as old tapestries from the 50s and 60s.

Darris is also a brand made in France. Our bags are made in the south of France, in Mazamet, one of the French leather capitals. I really like to tap into the know-how of our country.

I am very close to the person in charge of making the bags. As soon as we met we immediately felt a connection. We started working together and he helped me a lot, especially for the banana bag and the round bag made for the COQ.

How did the collaboration with the COQ begin?

I did a photo shoot of my Summer 2018 collection at the hotel. When I came here, I met Michel DELLOYE from COQ and Emmanuelle GILLARDO from Agence 14 Septembre. They had a real passion for the brand. That's where the idea of ​​doing a collaboration came from.

I wanted to design an exclusive bag to celebrate the renovation of the COQ. I was inspired by the artist Jean Cocteau and I worked on the logo by using the hotel’s signature, ‘Community of Quality’, along with ‘Darris Paris’ and ‘Made in France’.

What did you feel the first time you entered the COQ?

I fell in love with the design and decor of the hotel. What also captivated me is that they attach great importance to French know-how. It's a whole world!