At Ramsgate, Sydney south, there is a small shop on the corner of a street where you can see, through the window, on a beautiful old wooden table, some books, like the ones you can buy on the Parisian quays. Around, you can see French books, bottles of Savon de Marseille and old objects brought back from a Parisian flea market.
Paris, je t'aime
When you come in this Cabinet de curiosité, you're greeted by Vanessa Paradis and her famous Joe le Taxi, a delightful but surprising moment to hear this French 80's hit song in Sydney.
After having worked for 27 years for Qantas, she decided to study interior design and to realise her dream: to open, in 2016, her French-style homeware linen and decor shop.
Kathie is born in Corfou, Greece, where there were still a lof of French influences from WWI. And she always felt something special for France and the French culture. When she was nine, her family came to Australia. When she was a young adult, she went for the first time in France and immediately felt in love with Paris, the atmosphere, the people, the savoir-vivre, the architecture and the interior design.
"When I was 21 years old I came to France with my husband and felt in love. It has always been my dream to have ofFrenchh homeware shop for so many years", says Kathie.
"I studied interior design. I did the markets in 2014, first to see whether people will appreciate the quality of the French products and the cultural beauty of France. I then developed their trust and finally open my shop in 2016".
Kathie Argyros, Founder of French Cargo and Interior Stylist Source: French Cargo (Joanna Cabot)
Like a flea market
"People who have gone to Paris once are drawn to this shop or people who dream of going to Paris and that’s why I started to bring more specific french things, you know, what they would be familiar with if they went to Montmartre".
And it is then that this place takes a particular flavour: we find French objects, old and authentic. Objects that come directly from Parisian flea markets. Experiment, take one of the old books lying here and there, open it. The smell of the pages may be your Madeleine de Proust.
Modernity and old finds are mixed together.
"I go to MAISON&OBJET every year and made a solid connection with the terrific support network there. I love it, you know, to bring a few boxes back. I have a friend that lives in Montmartre and if she does the market I ask her to tell me what she found or I’ll tell her what I’m looking for".
"My main aim when I decided that French Cargo will be my business is that I wanted it to be like a destination. So, people would recognise my name and they'd come because they'd want to get a taste of France like a little bit of France in their home. That’s what I want to bring, I want to bring style and elegance".
Livres français anciens publiés avant 1940 Source: French Cargo (Joanna Cabot)
Chandelier Source: French Cargo (Joanna Cabot)
And Kathie doesn't only offer pieces of furniture or linen, she organises workshops about French culture.
"I run workshops all related around France. So I held two basic lessons of french sewing last year, I have french writers or people who have published french books coming, I’m running a night with Coco Chanel, with a french speaker. We going to have a workshop on how to dress like a parisian and I also do styling workshop".
The most popular products are soaps, like the famous Savon de Marseille. French linen is also very popular. And Kathie plans to create her own brand of homeware linen.
"I try to be authentic and have a good product and quality.The linen made in Europe is more expensive but it's important for me, I think it's worth it."
Savon de Marseille Source: French Cargo (Joanna Cabot)
Elegance, Quality, Simplicity.
"I find the elegance and the simplicity of the French interior surpass all trends, it reflects on the French people, they’re comfortable with who they are, and the homes reflect that. So I think that’s what I want to do in my interior design; influence people when they come home, they feel relaxed, and nothing sort of shout at them".
"It ’s just a calm experience or a calm existence and they don’t have to keep on buying. They can just invest in good neutral pieces, and I think that’s just how Parisians are, aren’t they? Looking for quality over quantity, keep it simple, don’t be too loud and accessorise with a scarf or a bright cushion every now and again you can change".
"I find it’s a journey and I do have to bring people around. But once they come around they do become addicted to linen, they do become addicted to the French style, and look, by having french music in the store, I always try to burn a french candle, I want people to escape to France when they come in my store".
Accessoires de décoration, bougies, affiches et livres Source: French Cargo (Joanna Cabot)
"Elegance, Quality, Simplicity. There are the three words I hope I bring into my shop because that for me is France. You know you can walk around Paris and wherever you go in France, it’s always going to be like this, with simplicity and that is beautiful!" 
French Cargo will have a stall a the next Bastille Festival from July 13th to July 15th 2018 in Sydney.aura également un stand au prochain festival français 'Bastille Festival' du 13 au 15 juillet 2018 à Sydney.
Produits français en vitrine Source: SBS French
