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"Chic ! meets" : Jean-Marie Massaud - "A potted history" of the Tam-tam - "Rising trends": Charity shops - "A potted history" of the Marmalade - "Insights" : Biorama

"Chic ! meets" : Jean-Marie Massaud
Designer Jean-Marie Massaud was elected designer of the year 2007 at the furniture trade fair held in Paris. He spent his childhood with his nose in encyclopaedias, and attended a transport engineering school in Toulouse. From furniture to a football stadium in Mexico, to perfume bottles, to tap fittings, Jean-Marie Massaud is not ashamed to admit he likes variety.

"A potted history" of the Tam-tam
It's the story of a designer, Henri Massenet, who used to make plastic buckets and ice-boxes for fishermen. One day, he wondered about making a practical and light chair for them to rest their backsides. No sooner said than done! In 1968, Henri Massenet created the Tam-tam - an inexpensive little stool that can be mounted in just three snaps. Brigitte Bardot gave him a helping hand by singing its praises. It then became the treasure-chest of mothers and children, who used it to store away everything that was lying around their homes. But whether it was used as a dustbin or a secret garden, the Tam-tam took up residence in 12 million homes. In 1970, the plastic stool was at the height of its glory. It entered museums - the MOMA in New York and the Arts Déco in Paris. Everyone wanted one, but two years later, it experienced a downturn and it ended up in the bin. About thirty years later, an enthusiastic bargain-hunter tried to resuscitate it, and launched a limited series in pop and fluorescent colours. He added fluff and sequins, and the tam-tam underwent a facelift.

"Rising trends": Charity shops
In London, the concept of charity shops is all the rage. London's 6,500 charity shops are as much a part of the high street landscape as the double-decker bus. Run by charities, the new-style shops sell off other people's discarded belongings, particularly clothes, for a fraction of their original price. Shopping in charity shops has become highly trendy as people can create their own unique, vintage look.

"A potted history" of the Marmalade
In 1700, in stormy weather, a Spanish ship sailing from Seville was forced to take refuge in the port of Dundee in Scotland. On board was a very ordinary-looking treasure - a large stock of oranges that were starting to rot. James Keiller, a grocer who was passing by, wanted to buy them all up for a pittance. And it was Miss Keiller, in order to deal with them quickly, who cooked the fruit whole. And that is how Marmalade was born. As for the origin of the word "marmalade", it is said that a cook prepared orange jam for Queen Mary of Scotland, who was seasick. On board, the sailors called out "Mary malade, Mary malade!". And as the little jar of orange jam was the only thing that made "Mary Malade" feel better, it was christened "Marmalade"! But it wasn't just the queen who appreciated it, doctors did too. They prescribed it for colds, flu and to facilitate digestion. It is, of course, the vitamin C content of the oranges that makes people feel better.

"Insights" : Biorama
A change of lifestyle is possible. Tired of working a 60 hour week, two London based designers had a crazy idea - to buy, not far from Berlin a former water tower, transform it into a magical and sun-lit space and open it up to tourists so they in turn can dream.