Sustainable Savoir-faire Cabinet of the French Manufactures Nationales

From 28 August to 19 September, as part of the European Heritage Days, the French Institute of Finland will host the “Cabinet of Sustainable Savoir-Faire”, created by Manufactures nationales – Sèvres & Mobilier national.

Inspired by the travel trunks of times gone by, the cabinet showcases several traditional craft techniques that have been practised for centuries in the workshops of the Manufactures nationales in France, including Sèvres porcelain and Gobelins tapestry. It also presents a selection of innovative and sustainable materials, such as locally sourced wood, natural pigments and recycled materials.

Created by Atelier Emmaüs using reclaimed materials, the “Cabinet of Sustainable Savoir-Faire” combines an introduction to the Manufactures nationales through the lens of sustainability with a selection of materials from the eco-responsible materials library of the Laboratory of Sustainable Practices.

Come and discover the techniques used by some of France’s finest craftspeople in a playful and interactive format! The cabinet’s explanatory texts are available in both English and French.

What are Manufactures nationales – Sèvres & Mobilier national?

Manufactures nationales – Sèvres & Mobilier national is a French public institution under the Ministry of Culture, dedicated to preserving, developing and promoting France’s exceptional craft heritage. It brings together several historic institutions and workshops, including the Gobelins tapestry workshops, the Sèvres porcelain manufactory, the lace workshops of Alençon and Le Puy-en-Velay, as well as Mobilier national and its seven furniture restoration workshops.

The objects and works created in these workshops are made to last for hundreds of years. The craftspeople who create them work with carefully sourced, high-quality materials, while drawing on centuries-old expertise. Manufactures nationales is therefore also playing an important role in the ecological transition, combining a deep respect for natural materials with energy efficiency, traditional restoration techniques and the reuse of existing materials.

In partnership with the Bettencourt Schueller Foundation, the Laboratory of Sustainable Practices—which also includes the Cabinet presented at the French Institute of Finland —was created to showcase experiments by craftspeople exploring materials and techniques for the future: locally sourced wood, natural fibres, responsibly produced pigments, sustainable processes, and reused or underutilised materials.

The aim? To bring together living heritage, innovation and sustainable design, imagining a future where beauty goes hand in hand with respect for the planet.