Alia Vitæ

Alia Vitæ is a French design studio founded by childhood friends Emma Demuynck and Julien Borisov, dedicated to reviving distinctive and overlooked works of French design. Its name, meaning “other lives” in Latin, reflects a desire to give historic creations renewed relevance. Demuynck brings her experience as a design expert for auction houses, while Borisov contributes an approach rooted in visual storytelling and collaboration with artisans. Together, they connect historical research with contemporary production, preserving the character of original designs while exploring new possibilities for their use.

Research and material experimentation are central to the practice. Each project involves studying the original designer’s intentions and techniques, then working with French craftspeople to recreate or adapt the production process. Alongside these reissues, Alia Vitæ invites contemporary designers and architects to develop new interpretations, creating a dialogue between design heritage and present day craftsmanship.

Its first project honours André Cazenave, the French designer known for sculptural lighting produced by Atelier A during the 1970s. His Dora lamps take the form of rounded pebbles, combining a mineral texture with softly diffused light. To revive the design, Alia Vitæ redeveloped its construction through extensive experimentation, entrusting production to a workshop in Montreuil, near Paris. Each lamp is handcrafted from fibreglass coated with marble and quartz powder, creating a surface that resembles stone while allowing light to pass through. This material research also led to a collaboration with architect and designer Sophie Dries on the Petra collection.

In 2025, the Dora lamps were presented in OASIS, Casa AnKan’s immersive exhibition at Alcova during Miami Art Week. Their glowing forms contributed to the exhibition’s atmosphere of stillness, warmth, and connection. Design Milk highlighted the lamps in “In the Middle of Miami Art Week, a Desert Oasis Awaited,” describing their sculptural presence and distinctive material finish. Alia Vitæ’s work has also appeared in Architectural Digest, which featured its collaboration with Sophie Dries, and Le Monde’s “Les anges gardiens des designers oubliés,” examining the revival of forgotten design.

Alia Vitæ’s complete catalog available upon request.