There are those who follow trends, and those who transcend them. Hartis belongs firmly to the latter. This young yet already iconic French maison has elevated furniture to the realm of art — and art to the intimate gesture of inhabiting life. Founded by the self-taught designer Hugo Besnier at just 25, Hartis embodies a new generation of luxury: elegant, understated and mindful.
The name Hartis is derived from the Latin artis, evoking mastery of craftsmanship. Yet it is the initial “H” that places it within the world of Haute Artisanat — high craftsmanship. Every creation is the result of a savoir-faire rooted in the 17th century, during the golden age of Louis XIV’s master cabinetmakers, when furniture was elevated to a fine art. Hartis pays homage to that lineage with each piece, honouring the precision of the hand, the nobility of materials and the creative power of time.
The inaugural collection, Tour de Mains, is an ode to this ancestral expertise. Every chair, table or sideboard is conceived as a unique work: numbered, signed, and entirely handmade in local workshops using sustainable materials — solid oak, natural leather, wool, stone, bronze — selected for their durability, provenance and inherent beauty. Marquetry, hand-carved wood, nail-free joinery, saddle-stitched leather… everything in Hartis breathes craftsmanship and passion.
Among the icons of the collection is the Marqueterie dining table, designed to accommodate at least ten guests. Its top, composed of 218 polished leather pieces, is as functional as it is sculptural. The Ossature armchair — winner of the FD100 award for excellence in French design — resembles an architectural structure carved in oak, while the Cintrage side table conceals an octagonal leather-lined box beneath its removable top: beauty and surprise in equal measure.
Hartis’s aesthetic moves between the essential and the brutalist; its lines are pure, almost silent. Yet on closer inspection, one discovers the delicacy of hand-wrought imperfections, the organic rhythm of natural materials, and the quiet serenity that only true authenticity can offer.
At its most exclusive, Hartis Ultime offers an experience reserved for those who seek to leave a mark through design. Much like a maison de haute couture, the client becomes co-creator of a singular piece. From a simple line sketched on paper, a process begins — one free from time constraints or limits of imagination. The result is a one-of-a-kind object, bearing a story and standing as a testament to the bond between art, nature and humanity.
Hugo Besnier, with no formal training or adherence to dogma, has achieved what many designers take decades to find: a language of his own.
