The history of Sessùn is intimately entwined with craftsmanship. A deep love of hand craftsmanship and cultural specificities, which make each piece unique and give them their value. As time has gone by, we have never lost that inclination towards the authenticity and the irreplaceable value of the handmade.
Over the years, artisanal craftsmanship has inspired not only our collections, but also the design and decor of our stores, our selection of objects at Sessùn Alma, our first exhibition Creative Flowering, our Creative Talks and the interior decoration at our offices, for which we commissioned several works from local artisans.
Ceramicists, spinners, photographers, sculptors, musicians, chefs… Creatives who are curious and open to the world. To us, these artists are essential to renewal and creation in the broader sense of the term. That is why we support them, by offering them a space for self-expression and sharing, guided, as always, by the same principle: the desire to give creators greater reach and facilitate inspiring encounters.
At 127 Rue Sainte in Marseille, the free, bright and vibrant soul of Sessùn is thriving, transposed into a selection of creations by artisans & artists, and a canteen. Opened in 2019, this warm, friendly, multi-purpose space was designed as a theatre of encounters. A venue for arts and culture, creative flowering, a celebration of craftsmanship and know-how… But also a place to enjoy lunch, meet up, chat over a coffee.
In 2023, Sessùn launched the Craft Prize, an international contest open to students and young professionals everywhere between the ages of 18 and 35. It is a fresh way of showing how attached we are to know-how, design and craftsmanship, along with our desire to help, support, and shine a light on a new generation of creators.
The jury, comprising Emma François (founder of Sessùn), Nathalie Dewez (designer and founder of Massilia Design), Gabriel Escamez (Interior designer and designer, founder of Cobalto Studio), Isabelle Moisy-Cobti (editorial Director of Tools magazine), Capucine Guhur (interior designer and designer, winner of the 1st Sessùn Craft Prize 2023), Madeleine Oltra (interior designer and designer), Angelo de Taisne (interior designer and designer), Julie Aleman (director of development at Sessùn), selects a winner each year based on creativity, feasibility, eco-responsibility, functionality and the entry’s compliance with the brief.
For the first edition, participants were asked to imagine a space designed to accommodate one or two people, allowing them to isolate for rest or work purposes. For the 2024 edition, the theme involved designing a very large-scale hanging luminaire intended to decorate and illuminate the main conference room. Each year, three winners are selected and rewarded with prizes, including the financing and production of the first-place winner’s project.