Personal style and author tips: 20 questions to Garance Primat
From her hotel-châteaux in France, the collector reveals her secret addresses where she finds unique pieces and handcrafted masterpieces of fashion and design.
by Mariangela R. Giunti
5' min read
5' min read
DISTINCTIVE SIGNS OF MY STYLE
I am an independent person and my style reflects this. I play with shapes, textures, colours, fabrics, I like to combine opposites. I love simplicity and pay attention to details and everything inspired by nature. Indigenous peoples understood and embraced the dichotomy of its wild strength and beauty. Perhaps that is why I am fascinated by ancient cultures, bearers of an earth-bound wisdom, and the clothes and objects they make.
MY STYLE ICON
I think Grace Kelly lived up to her name. She was gifted with wonderful natural grace (the engagement ring and other jewellery that belonged to the princess, all made by Cartier, are on display at the Half-Century of Cartier in Japan and Beyond: an Everlasting Dialogue of Beauty and Art exhibition at the National Museum in Tokyo until 28/7).
THE VIEW THAT INSPIRES ME
The spectacle of the green: it calms me and gives me joy. I could spend hours observing the lake that surrounds the Domaine des Etangs, the family estate that has now become a hotel in the Charente region: I like to see life unfold and change along the shore and inside the water. The chateau houses the Collection Garance Primat, hundreds of works and installations that can be found both indoors and outdoors (@collection garanceprimat; rooms from 420 euro).
La tenuta di famiglia, in un hotel che ospita la sua collezione d’arte (Auberge ResortsCollection). ©Yorick Chassigneux
AN OBJECT FROM WHICH I WOULD NEVER SEPARATE.
A braided chain bracelet by Van Cleef & Arpels in yellow gold and diamonds. My father had given it to my mother, she gave it to me, and I never take it off. A symbol of their love.
Bracciale, VAN CLEEF & ARPELS. ©Yorick Chassigneux
A RECENT DISCOVERY .
The Bode brand produces unique handcrafted garments. They are made from vintage fabrics, Victorian quilts, grain sacks and bed linen. Everything is made-to-measure in New York (dresses from 600 euros).
The LAST THING I LOVED
The PRL x Naiomi Glasses collection, part of the Artist in Residence programme of Ralph Lauren: pays homage to the Navajo tradition and their centuries-old weaving techniques (embroidered jeans, EUR 370).
Jeans ricamati PRL x Naiomi Glasses, RALPH LAUREN (370 €).
The JEWELS I HABITUALLY WEAR
A Hopi Jewelry style ring, a gift from my partner. It depicts a heart in the centre of a sun and shows the Four Directions, an important symbol for American Indians. I came into contact with their traditions and beliefs when I created the Spa at our resort in Primland, in the mountains of Virginia, where American Indian tribes have lived for 12,000 years. The spa, and also many rituals, are inspired by them ($620 rooms, aubergeresorts.com/primland ).
Un anello in stile Hopi Jewelry che rappresenta un cuore e le Quattro Direzioni, tema caro ai nativi americani. ©Yorick Chassigneux
LAST OBJECT I PURCHASED
Raphael Navot, interior architect and designer, created custom-made furniture for my home in Geneva: it expresses purity of form and celebrates high craftsmanship.
And THAT'S WHAT I'M DOING .
I fear overproduction and excessive consumerism. I have started buying second-hand pieces at auctions. I recently found a totem pole by Ettore Sottsass (Totem Odalisque, EUR 85,400, on 1stdibs.com ).
IN MY Fridge NEVER LACKS .
Soft cheese, strong Dijon mustard and gherkins. They are deeply French (Roquefort D'artisan Berger, 96 euro, on shoplongino.it; Maille mustard, 2.75 euro; Aveyron gherkins, 7 euro on vasano.it ).
Senape di Digione, MAILLE (2,75 €).
LAST MEAL THAT REALLY IMPRESSED ME
Dinner at Table, a 2-Michelin-starred Parisian restaurant of the talented and creative chef Bruno Verjus. His refined yet simple cuisine emphasises local and seasonal products. I also like Yen, a Japanese restaurant on rue Saint-Benoît, for its elegant dishes with a unique essentiality. I love healthy and genuine food: eating well also means taking care of the environment, producing and consuming in a respectful way.
Cioccolato infuso con capperi e guarnito con caviale del ristorante Table di Parigi. ©Stéphane Riss
My favourite websites and apps .
I love music, it improves life. I use Spotify, where I create a lot of playlists, and I listen on the KCRW app, a Californian radio station that plays unexpected tracks. In general, I like to discover new things, and YouTube is a great tool.
LAST CLOTH I ADDED TO THE GUARDAROBE
A limited edition vintage coat-mantle by Jean-Charles de Castelbajac: it is very playful and inspired by Noah's Ark. By the same designer, I chose ceramics created for Faïencerie de Gien and colourful glasses designed for Waww La Table. I also recently bought some Rose Carmine garments, designed by Sandrine Ganem: they are all knitted and crocheted. I love shopping for clothes and handmade items, it's my way of helping to support artisanal crafts ( gien.com , set of 6 dishes for 250 euros; waww.fr , Heart tumbler, from 80 euro; rosecarmine-paris.com , crochet patchwork knit from 660 euro).
The CRAFTSMAN I PREFER .
Duy Anh Nhan Duc is an artist, but also a craftsman. He has a delicate, subtle approach that reveals the beauty that surrounds us. I also find the ceramics of Manon Clouzeau wonderful.
THOSE I TRUST FOR MY PERSONAL WELL-BEING.
I am followed by a specialist in traditional Chinese medicine at the Centre BioMed MTC in Geneva: his treatments and Tuina massages are very effective on me. When I'm in Paris, however, I often indulge in Kobido, an ancient Japanese beauty ritual that brightens and invigorates the face, at the facialist Francine Thekal (acupuncture from 180 euros per session).
my favourite beauty products .
Natural body oils with almonds, sesame, coconut. As skincare for the face, I followed my dermatologist's advice and use products by Augustinus Bader: I now have brighter and healthier skin (The Rich Cream, EUR 265).
The Rich Cream, AUGUSTINUS BADER (50 ml, 265 €).
The ARTIST I WOULD COLLECT IF I COULD .
For me, art, like nature, is a universal language. I collect the works of Wang Keping, who works with wood in a poetic way, and those of Lee Ufan, with great depth. I love Olafur Eliasson, I follow Tomás Saraceno closely, Andreas Eriksson's paintings related to nature, and I feel a connection with Louise Bourgeois' research. I am moved by all of them. But if I had to choose an artist, if I could I would collect Monet, for his meditative approach: I would spend hours looking at his masterpieces ( wangkeping.com; studioleeufan.org; olafureliasson.net; Cloud Cities: du sol au soleil, by Saraceno, is part of Primat's collection, and is on permanent display in the garden of the Domaine des Etangs; Andreas Eriksson, medelplana.com ; Louise Bourgeois, hauserwirth.com ).
“Cloud Cities: du sol au soleil”, l’installazione di Tomás Saraceno al Domaine des Etangs. ©Arthur Péquin
The MOST BEAUTIFUL GIFT MADE RECENTLY
I gave my partner an American Wurlitzer jukebox from 1947. Collector's item, but fully functional (Wurlitzer 1015 The Bubbler vintage 1946, 21 thousand euros, at 1stdibs.com)
Juke-box americano 1015 “The Bubbler”, del 1947, WURLITZER. ©www.jukeboxhistory.info
An UNFORGETTABLE PLACE RECENTLY VISITED
Morocco: I find its craftsmanship fascinating. In Marrakech, I recommend staying at the Royal Mansour, it is the epitome of all local craftsmanship. For dinner, the address is Le Grand Café de la Poste ( royalmansour.com , rooms from 1,800 euro).
If I HAD TO LIMIT SHOPPING TO ONE DISTRICT OF A CITY I WOULD CHOOSE
Downtown in New York, for the quality of creative research.
The book on the bedside table .
I have many, I am a strong reader. The Man Who Planted Trees by Jean Giono (EUR 12), which questions our relationship with the world. Then there is The Soul of the World by philosopher Frédéric Lenoir (€13), The Manuscript Found in Accra by Paulo Coelho (€15), Empty and Full. The Chinese pictorial language by François Cheng (20 euros) and the Bhagavadgītā (12 euros; all on ibs.it ), a sacred text that I studied for my yoga training.
“L’uomo che piantava gli alberi”di Jean Giono (12 €, suibs.it)
A PLEASURE I WOULD NEVER GIVE UP.
A glass of good wine: among the reds, a Bordeaux like the Cos d'Estournel or, from Italy, the Tignanello. My family produces wines in Alsace (G d'Estournel 2020, 175 euro, estournel.com ; Tignanello 2021, 146 euro, antinori.it; domaines-schlumberger.com ).
If I DID NOT DO WHAT I DO.
I would be a therapist, an artist or a craftswoman.
