Bébé Trek

BÉBÉ TREK. is made exclusively from natural materials (bamboo, volcanic stones, etc.) and crafted so that children can handle it easily. Designer Flora Koel draws inspiration from the theme of discovery, specifically hiking.

Her work aims to place the child in the role of an explorer, following their instincts through the variety of materials provided. A variety of ways to interact with the objects are provided:

percussion toys, rattles, rings, woven pieces, as well as early learning and threading games. The facilitators leading the session offer the child and their family a sensory experience and an exploration of the different aspects of the materials and their components, whether mineral, plant-based or synthetic.
 

Biography of Flora Koel

Flora Koel graduated with a DNAT in textiles from the École Nationale Supérieure des Beaux-Arts de Lyon (2014) and subsequently with a DNSEP in object design from the École Supérieure d’Art et Design de Saint-Étienne (2017). She immerses herself in the world of plants and trees to create her pieces. By using local materials, this designer situates her works within the fabric of time and space.

“Returning to a wild natural state, without doing away with technology, is a practical concern that involves not taking a step back, but moving forward in a different direction to reinvent life and work,” she says, affirming her desire to work outdoors using local resources. “Collaborating with nature rather than automatically uprooting it,” explains Flora. Her immersion in nature has led her to rethink her role as a designer. Flora invites us to pay attention to the fragility of natural materials, their potential and the ways in which she repurposes them.

Envisioning an autonomous practice leads to a wilder, freer form of creation that breaks away from mass industry and establishes a responsible stance for both the producer and the recipient.