Paris had been calling me for several months. I hadn’t been there since Paris Fashion Week in March 2017 and had survived perfectly well but over the summer, I felt a strong pull towards the city that just wasn’t going away. So when one of my best friends called just before Paris Fashion Week kicked off and told me I HAD to come, I thought well it’s a sign and I should go and do some trend research there anyway as I brought The Fiiinds to life.

It was a very last-minute trip and while many central hotels were sold out, I thought it would be a great opportunity to check out Mob House, the new venture conceived by innovative entrepreneur Michel Reybier, vegan philosopher, Cyril Aouizerate and revered designer, Philippe Starck. Located in Saint-Ouen-sur-Seine in the 19th Arrondissement, this was a neighbourhood I had never ventured before and I was curious to see that too.

It was a beautiful sunny day when I arrived. The hotel’s surroundings, which were reportedly a bit sketchy according to some reviews I read, looked nothing but delightful from the windows of my uber as we approached the destination. I caught a glimpse of the famous Marché aux Puces and groups of friends enjoying lunch outside charming cafes. A beautiful mix of old and modern buildings… Stoney hues against a clear blue sky… If anything, the area reminded me of Shoreditch circa. 2003, when I first moved to London and lived around there at the time and that’s a good thing in my book. It was a time when East London was still… East London… raw, unpretentious and only peppered with heralds of the tsunami of gentrification and soaring property prices that was yet to come. I suppose that Mob House could possibly be one such herald in a little corner of Saint-Ouen but it feels unthreatening. An understated sanctuary of sorts.

The decor, as you might expect of Philippe Starck, is modern and creative. Industrial chic at its finest and most effortless… There is an eclectic utilitarian warehouse vibe in the lounge but the furnishings and adjoining shimmering golden bar are too plush to call it that. Lots of books. You certainly wouldn’t get bored if you had time to spend there. Unfortunately, I didn’t and I had to do a quick turnaround once I checked in. At the risk of sounding like this is a hotel review (and it certainly isn’t! Nor was it a sponsored press visit), I would just like to point out that the staff were lovely and very welcoming. Unfortunately, there was no possibility of an upgrade as the hotel was at full capacity when I was there. I am just pointing that out so you know, dear reader, that the images below are of their most basic room offering but it was more than adequate, with lots of attention to detail. It was great to have a desk to get some work done and I must point out that their French eco-friendly toiletry range was beautiful.

Eco-friendliness is at the core of the Mob House concept and natural materials largely make up the foundation of the design. The walls are painted with a straw and clay blend spray. Surfaces are largely created from concrete or marble and French oak flooring and Beaujolais terracotta tiles feature widely throughout the rooms. The hotel also uses eco-friendly cleaning products and a thermal regulator with a low carbon footprint to avoid the release of harmful chemical compounds.

The hotel’s restaurant also has sustainability at its heart. Feuille de Chou, headed by Jérôme Banctel, a two-Michelin-starred chef, serves a seasonal, organic, mainly vegetarian menu. Sadly, I did not stay long enough or have time to sample anything beyond breakfast but that was delicious, and the freshly baked sourdough bread deserves a special mention… It was an example of sourdough perfection.

I also didn’t have time (or the inclination, given the October nip in the air) to jump into the pool but I’d imagine that it could bring some welcome respite on summer days. I will try the pool next time hopefully!

I only stayed in Mob House for one night before staying with a good friend in the 16th and the next few days were a bit of a whirlwind with key highlights being some visits to the beautiful Faith Connexion studio where I checked out their new collections and attended their phenomenal Paris Fashion Week party, which was hosted by Ellen Von Unwerth.

There was lots of running around the city… Lots of trend research and lots of coffee! Paris, je t’aime beaucoup. I came back feeling so inspired and hope to be back soon! ❤️