INTERVIEW WITH MARC LARMINAUX, ARTISTIC AND CREATIVE DIRECTOR AT LALIQUE

How do you personally navigate the dialogue between a century-old legacy and contemporary design language?

At Lalique, heritage is not something we look back at — it is something we work with every day. As an Artistic and Creative Director, my role is not to protect the past, but to keep it alive. I see legacy as a vocabulary, not a constraint. The challenge is to understand the spirit behind historical creations and reinterpret it through today’s sensibilities, materials, and ways of living. When the dialogue is honest, heritage naturally becomes contemporary.

What does air represent to you as a designer, beyond its poetic symbolism?

Air is paradoxical. It is invisible, yet it shapes everything around us. For me, Air represents movement, transition, and emotion — all elements that are fundamental to creation. Designing around Air allows us to explore lightness without fragility, presence without weight. It invites us to design not only forms, but sensations and create emotions.

What was the creative challenge in ensuring coherence across such diverse expressions in Chapter II of the Air collection?

The challenge was not coherence of form, but coherence of intention. Lighting, decorative objects, and a crystal perfume bottle are very different typologies, yet they can share the same emotional language. Chapter II is unified by the idea of Air as movement captured in crystal — whether through light, illusion, or elevation. Each expression has its own voice, but they all belong to the same narrative.

How did your approach to designing light differ from designing decorative crystal objects with Alizé?

Light introduces a new dimension: time. A luminaire changes depending on how it is used, how it interacts with space, and how it evolves throughout the day. With Alizé, we were not designing an object to be observed, but an atmosphere to be experienced.

Light comes from inside the piece rather than from outside. It brings the crystal to life, but also reveals and transforms the space around it. Crystal becomes a medium for light rather than an end in itself — almost a textile, shaping space through luminosity.

How do you decide when a design should feel playful and neo-pop, versus timeless and heritage-driven?

It is never a rational decision; it is an emotional one. Teddy Air embraces tenderness and nostalgia, while Papillons reconnects with Lalique’s naturalistic heritage. Both are legitimate expressions of the Maison. Lalique has always oscillated between audacity and poetry. The key is sincerity — when the intention is clear, the tone naturally finds its place.

Why is illusion such an important theme in Lalique’s contemporary design language?

Illusion is deeply rooted in Lalique’s history. René Lalique himself played with transparency, light, and perception. Today, illusion allows us to express emotion rather than literal form — an inflated volume, a movement frozen in crystal, light appearing to float. Illusion invites the viewer to pause, to question what they see, and to feel something beyond the object itself.

How do you approach designing a crystal perfume bottle like Rêverie, which must express scent, craftsmanship, and collectability?

A perfume bottle is a silent storyteller. It must express what cannot be seen — the fragrance. With Rêverie, we worked on elevation and verticality, allowing the light to reveal the golden tones of the extrait. The cloud-shaped cap suggests a dreamlike state, a moment suspended in air. Collectability comes from precision, restraint, and meaning — never from excess.

How does revisiting the Tourbillons vase influence your vision for the future rather than anchoring you in the past?

Tourbillons is not a memory — it is a living icon. Revisiting it reminds us why Lalique exists: to transform nature, movement, and light into crystal. Celebrating its centenary is not about nostalgia, but about reaffirming relevance. Suzanne Lalique’s work feels remarkably modern today, which gives us confidence to continue creating boldly.

Where do you see innovation happening today at Lalique — in form, technique, or narrative?

Innovation happens where all three meet. Techniques remain essential, but innovation truly emerges when craftsmanship serves a contemporary narrative. Today, we innovate by rethinking how crystal interacts with light, space, and emotion. It is not only about inventing new tools or techniques but about asking new questions about exploring a new language.

What do you hope people will understand about Lalique after experiencing the 2026 creations as a whole?

I hope they will understand that Lalique is not defined by a single era or style. It is a living Maison that evolves in his time while remaining deeply rooted in its values. 2026 expresses our belief that true luxury lies in emotion, time, and meaning — transforming the ephemeral into something enduring.