Raf Simons has a new gig. Starting on April 2, the Belgian designer will join Prada as a co-creative director alongside Miuccia Prada.
“This partnership, encompassing all creative facets of the Prada label, is born from a deep reciprocal respect and from an open conversation – it is a mutual decision, proposed and determined by both parties,” the Italian brand said in a statement. “It opens a new dialogue, between designers widely acknowledged as two of the most important and influential of today.”
In addition to overseeing his own eponymous line, Simons has also enjoyed stints at Jil Sander and Dior. More recently he was appointed creative director of Calvin Klein, where his contributions to the American brand were met with a mixed response. (Read: people liked the clothes but they weren’t buying them.) He unceremoniously stepped down from the brand at the end of 2018. Since his departure, rumors of where Simons would land next moved circulated throughout the industry.
The combination of Prada’s classic elegance with Simons’ affinity for youth and club culture will no doubt breathe new life into the historic label. The first collection with his co-sign will be presented in September in Milan for Spring 2021.
Louis Vuitton debuted its first partnership with Frieze LA by hosting an Objets Nomades exhibition over the weekend. In addition to presenting some of its most esteemed design objects, the French designer also hosted a series of talks and panels throughout the duration of the art festival.
The designer’s Objets Nomades offshoot of curated furniture and other decor launched in 2012, but this marks the first time the 48-piece collection was shown during Frieze. Designed by a group of international designers, the pieces are the perfect balance of functionality and innovation and possess a timeless and practical appeal that still honors the House’s distinct legacy — highlights include a foldable stool by British design firm Raw Edges and a pink plush Bomboca sofa by Brazilian design duo Fernando and Humberto Campana.
Take a look at some of the displays from the Louis Vuitton Objets Nomades experience at Frieze LA below.
A few weeks after Gucci opened its own men’s store next to its women’s shop in Beverly Hills, Dior seems to have followed suit on the east coast. Earlier this week, the French brand opened the doors to its first menswear store in New York in the heart of SoHo on Greene Street, next to its womenswear outpost.
The multi-level store puts Kim Jones’ vision of Dior Men front and center — frequent collaborator Daniel Arsham even designed a sculpture for the window display. Upon entry, customers can admire another piece of art by New York-based artist Yoon Hyup before perusing the brand’s extensive range of leather accessories (including different editions of the increasingly popular saddlebag) and walls stacked with the designer’s latest sneakers, from chunky to classic styles, and other footwear. Go a little further and browse the designer’s ready-to-wear pieces that line the walls of the well-lit boutique. Towards the rear of the store, a downward staircase leads to a semi-private VIP area where clients can receive additional styling assistance.
The Dior Men’s store is open now at 107 Greene St, New York, NY 10012. Take a look at some more pictures of the shop below.
Evian collaborated with Virgil Abloh on a limited-edition collection that aims to address the global issue of sustainability. The “Activate Movement” collection includes a selection of reusable water bottles that feature a droplet motif that represents the potential impact simple small changes can make. Along with the collection, Evian is also launching the “Activate Movement” Program, a sustainable design contest that will give 18-35-year-old applicants a chance of winning a €50,000 grant to pursue their research.
“I believe that every little thing you do can change the status quo,” Abloh, Evian’s Creative Advisor for Sustainable Innovation Design, said in a statement. “That’s what inspired the ‘Activate Movement’ collection because a single drop can be the starting point of positive change. Every idea has to start somewhere, so we were thinking what if we could create that place? A place to empower the new generation.”
For more information on the “Activate Movement” initiative, check out Evian’s website.
The British pioneer in interior design, Tom Dixon, will be skipping this year’s official Maison & Objet show to present his own “24 Hours in Paris” series alongside. Instead, Dixon will roll out a lineup of ambitious events throughout Paris featuring breakfast at Le Drugstore, Lunch at Shabour, and drinks on the rooftop of Hôtel des Grands Boulevards to name a few.
In a statement explaining his decision to keep out of the international design fair, Dixon said: “It’s now time to be more mobile, to be more flexible and reach new and existing audiences in a different way.” The first of the 24-hours series will allow the designer to maximize his time and pack in as much activity in the one day period as possible. In the coming months, the concept will roll out in Milan, Shanghai, London, Copenhagen, Bangkok, Nanjing, and Melbourne.
During his time in Paris, Dixon will launch two new accessories collections SWIRL and PRESS. A Paris-based florist will adorn both. Swirl focuses on a psychedelic concept of haphazard geometric forms. (It reminds one of granite.) Press focuses on the thickest industrially pressed glass art featured in heavyweight grooved vases, bowls, and candleholders.
“24 Hours in Paris” will activate across Paris on Monday, January 20th.
Accessories brand Maharam originally asked collaborating artists to create a bag that they would like to use themselves. So industrial designer Leon Ransmeier took the words in a manner that made the most sense to him: seamlessness, versatility, and clean lines in a style dubbed the A-Pack.
Ransmeier’s ideal backpack prioritizes functionality with premium material — this time he chose to work with a 24-ounce waxed cotton canvas from Scotland. The heavyweight material seems perfect for bag design, but its thickness renders it difficult to stitch. However, this worked in Ransmeier’s favor as there is only one seam on the base of the bag.
Aside from material, Ransmeier was also exceptionally meticulous about detail, particularly handle placement. He didn’t want his bag to slump awkwardly or collapse in itself and so he aligned the apex of the bag and the handly direction on the bag’s load-bearing interior so that it stands upright. This means that the bag can be carried as a casual tote as well.
Concealing raw edges and eliminating further finishing, the designer truly perfected every aspect of the bag (which took him about three years). Perfect as a travel bag or an everyday staple, and the ultimate gifting option, the A-Pack is a craft “must-have” bag for the design lover.
The A-Pack is offered in two multipurpose sizes and three colors (black, ivory, and lapis) online.
Known for creating immersive environments, world-renowned designers, Yabu Pushelberg, take center stage in orchestrating the world’s first super boutique hotel: The Londoner. Opening this June, the sixteen-story marvel will offer 350 guestrooms and suites, topped with a tower penthouse offering panoramic views; two private screening rooms; a mix of six concept eateries, bars and a tavern, including alfresco dining on the ground floor and a contemporary Japanese lounge bar with a rooftop terrace and fire pit; plus an expansive ballroom suited for any occasion, a variety of meeting spaces and a results-driven gym and spa.
Nestled in London’s Leicester Square neighborhood on Whitcomb Street, The Londoner is set to transform the city’s majestic skyline by delivering the most sophisticated playground on that side of the pond.
Walkthrough with Glenn Pushelberg and George Yabu, where they lead us through the design process from concept to curtain call.
EH: We’re always fascinated by hotels of this elegance, walk us from design concept to completion. Where did you start? Were there any design MUSTS you were careful to employ?
George:Historically, Leicester Square has been the theatre district of London. We really wanted to play into these roots in a spirited, youthful way. We thought about the function of the theatre in front of the house and back of the house, which really took the shape of the design direction.
Glenn: The Londoner is somewhat of a displaced atrium. A guest can go up 8 stories into the sky or they can go beneath street level to discover stories of endless hotel programming. The hotel has a subterranean quality which allows guests to not get distracted by the reality that surrounds them and truly immerse themselves at the moment. Or they can escape their inner sanctum and go up to the top of the hotel and look out onto Leicester Square in a bustling bar that feels like the center of the world. The hotel can really morph to the mood and energy the guest is feeling or gravitating towards and that is the idea that really spurred the entire hotel concept.
EH: Describe any challenges and how you overcame them.
Glenn: We designed the hotel as a series of dreams that take place over one night’s sleep cycle. In 8 hours, a person could have 6 crazy dreams; we wanted to create that experience, with much less disillusion and with a heightened emphasis on the fun bits. Our biggest challenge was creating a common thread that could fuse these spaces together while giving each environment enough room to tell their own story. We approached this by stacking the spaces, the dreams, on top of one another instead of blending them into one space. We wanted to give them each enough room to breathe and it also gives the guest the choice to choose what they want in that moment.
EH: Anything you tried that was new or a departure from other projects?
While we are accustomed to designing up into the clouds, The Londoner was our opportunity to design into the London skyline while also diving deep down into the earth. The building gave us a boundless opportunity to experiment with how we wanted to frame the guest experience and take down the pre-disposed barriers around how hotel spaces are and can be shaped. For example, we created a vessel of new experiences for the guest by placing important and active programming into the lower levels which can change the context of how people perceive and utilize the space. It may not sound luxurious, but that was the fun part, figuring out how we can utilize space in a new, clever way.
EH: What was the timeline?
Glenn: Over the past three years our team has gradually been bringing The Londoner to its full form. When we first started this project, we were actively working on three other projects based in London. They are all incredibly special in their own way and will all be opening quite soon. We feel quite connected to London and it is exciting to see all these projects come to life around the same time. While we can’t talk about the other ones just yet, we can soon!
George: Our work in London and Europe has organically expanded over the years. Our re-design of La Samaritaine in Paris will be opening this coming April followed by other exciting projects soon to be announced projects. We are back and forth to Milan to meet with our furniture collaborators and preparing for another big year of collection debuts at Salone. It is a really exciting time at YP, which makes openings like The Londoner that much sweeter, to see our visions come to life.
EH: Who did you envision is the client for the spaces?
Glenn: When we think of the who is staying at The Londoner, we envision a world traveler who likes to entertain as much as they like to be entertained. They are adventure seekers but understand the importance of rest and self-care. Those who see the fun in dressing up just for the sake of it, or to the opposite effect are trying to step away from the world for a little while, The Londoner is for them. It is a multi-generational hotel with no specific age in mind because to us, that is just a state of mind.
Marc Hundley, a Canadian mixed-medium artist currently based in New York, was commissioned by Helmut Lang to reinterpret its own logo for its Resort 2020 collection. Having attended a Helmut Lang show in Paris while still a teenager, Hundley opted for a retro-style interpretation. This nostalgic theme was emphasized in the design, where the brand’s name was deconstructed and jumbled into a new funky composition and hand-stenciled across a series of staple garments including denim pieces, t-shirts, and a hoodie — the latter pieces feature another printed graphic reading “Printemps/Été,” which is French for Spring/Summer, further emphasizing the relationship between artist and designer.
The Helmut Lang x Marc Hundley collection is available online now.
Commune Design has just announced its partnership with Ace Hotel‘s first location in Asia in Kyoto. The award-winning design firm along with legendary architect Kengo Kuma will design the hotel inside the historic Kyoto Central Telephone Company.
Ace Hotel Kyoto, expected to open next spring, is the fourth collaboration between Ace Hotels and Commune Design. For this particular project, the brand intends to maintain the essence of Japanese design in the structure of the building and combine it with the American style cues that have inspired it. To accomplish this, the designers are working with local artists and craftsmen to weave a story or tradition and incorporate it into the hotel’s contemporary design.
The hotel itself is an interpretation of the relationship between the East and West, including inspiration by influential designers Charlotte Perriand and JB Blunk.
Even though the Virgil Abloh x IKEA furniture collaboration was first announced two years ago, progress has been somewhat slow. This is understandable, as Virgil has had a lot on his plate, whether it’s launching another range of household goods with Off-white, overseeing menswear at Louis Vuitton, or DJing his own Vegas residency — so much that his doctor told him to take a break for three months. But lovers of high-fashion and Scandinavian furniture can rejoice, for the collection of goods is officially coming next month.
On November 1, the Markerad (which roughly translates to “crisp” and “pronounced” in Swedish) collection hits stores. Here are some of the things to look forward to: a 3 x 7 foot rug in the likeness of a lengthy Ikea receipt, a brown shopping bag printed with the word “SCULPTURE,” a green rug that reads “WET GRASS,” and a light-up print of the Mona Lisa equipped with a USB port that is sure to be the hottest item in every dorm this winter.
There are some more straightforward options as well, including a lightwood chair and table set that requires no tool assembly and a clear-glass cabinet. So whether you’re into understated interiors or the occasional statement piece, the Markerad collection is a sure way to add some street cred to your humble abode.
A regular fixture of London Design Week, Tom Dixon transformed his headquarters, The Coal Office in King’s Cross hub, into a multi-sensory lab, titled TouchySmellyFeelyNoisyTasty. Appealing to each of the senses, the designer handpicked partners to collaborate on the week-long exhibition.
The first of the part of the series — Touchy-Feely — took place in Dixon’s Design Research Studio, where he had partnered with men’s care brand Harry’s on a razor bar. Guests also got the opportunity to admire Dixon’s own salon chair and decor (pictured in the featured image).
For the Noisy part of the exhibit, the brand organized a light and sound installation. The Looky shop grew upon that idea as well with an installation of light fixtures, including the new LED range, and lights from the latest Spring 2020 collection.
For the Smelly corner, Tom Dixon launched two new fragrances, Underground and Alchemy. Finally, for Tasty the French champagne house Perrier-Jouët set up a champagne bar. Just like that, Tom Dixon’s headquarters were the ideal place to spend a whole afternoon during the commotion of London Design Week.
Fresh from a collection of gear inspired by the late Jean-Michel Basquiat, Herschel has released a new capsule with Olivia Kim, vice president of creative projects for Nordstrom. The new range of 100 items, spread across 6 collections, was influenced by Kim’s distinct style, adding some funky flair to the durable bags. Some highlights include a variety of corduroy luggage in primary color-block styles (very art school-cool), a faux-tiger-fur tote (major Kenzo vibes), and deep-pile fleece backpacks that are the perfect blend of cotton ball and cloud.
The Herschel x Olivia Kim collection is available at select Nordstrom stores and online now.
