Bébé Trek

Bébé Trek

BÉBÉ TREK. is a device designed exclusively from natural materials (such as bamboo, volcanic stones, etc.) and crafted to be easily handled by children. Designer Flora Koel draws inspiration from discovery, particularly when hiking.

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Her work encourages children to embrace the role of explorers, trusting their instincts as they engage with the diverse materials provided. The experience includes hands-on interactions with objects likepercussion instruments, rattles, rings, weavings, as well as sensory and threading games. Children and their family are offered a sensory experience and an exploration of the different aspects of materials and their components—whether mineral, plant-based, or synthetic.

Flora Koel graduated with a DNAT (National Diploma in Art and Technology) in Textiles from the École Nationale Supérieure des Beaux-Arts de Lyon (2014) and earned a DNSEP (National Higher Diploma in Plastic Expression) in Object Design from the École Supérieure d’Art et Design de Saint-Étienne (2017). To create her pieces, she draws inspiration from plants and trees, and uses local materials, allowing her works to fit into place and space. “Returning to wild nature without rejecting technology is a concrete concern—it’s not about stepping back but about moving forward in a different direction to reinvent life and work,” she says, affirming her desire to work with nature and with local resources. “Collaborating with nature rather than automatically uprooting it,” Flora clarifies. Her immersion in nature has led her to rethink her role as a designer. Flora invites us to pay attention to the fragility of natural materials, their potential, and the ways she repurposes their uses.

Imagining an autonomous practice leads to a wilder, freer creation that breaks away from mass industry and establishes a responsible position for both the producer and the receiver.