Business of Home Podcast Meet the 'enfant terrible' of French wallcoverings and textiles
Feb 9, 2026
58:54
Launched in Toulouse, France in 1985, Élitis is the opposite of a heritage textile brand. Its founder, Patrice Marraud des Grottes, wanted to break with stale tradition and present vivid artistic patterns, work with new technologies, and push mills to innovate. Known for challenging conventions, Élitis was once described as an “enfant terrible” in the world of high-end French fabric and wallcovering.
On this episode of the podcast, CEO of Élitis North America Olivier Thienpont chats with host Dennis Scully about the surprising resilience of the high-end market, the difference between American and French customers, and why no technological disruption can change what makes the design industry special.