L’Objet is now a globally celebrated name in luxury design and quality, but its beginnings were far from calculated. Elad Yifrach, the brand’s founder and creative director, stumbled upon the idea almost by chance -- never imagining it would one day take its place on the global luxury map.

Trained in architecture and interior design, Yifrach has always had a passion for creativity. “I dabbled in everything -- music, space design, all sorts of creative fields -- until I got the opportunity to work at a wonderful architecture and interiors firm in New York,” he recalls. “That’s where I truly fell in love with the idea of not just designing spaces, but giving them a soul through the objects within them.”

It was during this time that Yifrach noticed a gap in the market. The kind of objects he envisioned to bring energy and emotion into a space simply didn’t exist. “As I worked through projects, I realised that the kinds of pieces I was imagining weren’t available in the market. I talked to my mentor about it, and he said, ‘Why don’t you make them yourself?’ That’s when I first thought of working with clay -- not to build a brand, but just to see if I could bring my ideas to life.”

And so, in 2005, L’Objet was born.

At the time, Yifrach didn’t have a defined vision for the brand’s future positioning. “I had no idea it would be considered luxury,” he says. “I was focused on detail, craftsmanship, and the materials I loved—those just happened to be expensive, which naturally elevated the products. To this day, I don’t throw the word ‘luxury’ around. For me, L’Objet is defined by exquisite craftsmanship.”

Yifrach’s own journey is global: born in Israel, he spent many years in the United States and is now based in Lisbon, Portugal, where the brand’s headquarters are also located. Interestingly, the brand’s name is French -- L’Objet -- which means “The Object.”

“Yes, it’s French,” he explains, “but it’s also an art term used to describe an object of elevated quality. I was drawn to it because it reflects a commitment to my creative ethos. And it gives me a broad canvas to explore -- from textiles and vases to dinnerware, board games, and beyond.”

Today, L’Objet has five standalone boutiques worldwide. Yifrach emphasises the importance of making each store relevant to its local market. “About 90 per cent of our products are consistent across all our stores, but we always include pieces specifically curated for the region. What works on Madison Avenue in New York may not be suitable for our store on Sloane Street in London. We aim to balance global consistency with local relevance.”

In 2025, as L’Objet celebrates its 20th anniversary, the brand marked a major milestone by launching its flagship boutique in New Delhi at The Chanakya mall. The brand’s portfolio now spans a wide range of hand-crafted luxury items for interiors -- decorative objects, vases, photo frames, dinnerware, teapots, coffee sets, scented candles, bath salts, and even eau de parfum.

Over the years, L’Objet has also collaborated with renowned artists such as the Haas Brothers, Ruan Hoffmann, and a few others. Yet, these collaborations aren’t driven by name recognition or market strategy. “For me, it’s always about human connection and creative synergy,” Yifrach says. “The collaborations happened because they felt natural -- born out of shared ideas and mutual respect.”

With India’s rich artistic heritage and a growing number of globally recognised creatives, is Yifrach eyeing future collaborations with Indian artists?

“The hunt is on,” he says with a smile. “It’ll happen when it’s meant to -- after many interactions, that one special connection will emerge.”