Decades ago fashion houses such as Missoni challenged the notion that fashion and interior design were separate enterprises with very different material aesthetic traditions.
In the last few years some contemporary fashion houses re-launched collaborations with furniture manufacturers or producers of interior design objects and home textiles, to strengthen their presence on the market, fuel a fertile fusion of fashion and architectural design, develop new product ranges and expand their customer base.
Founded in the mid-‘60s in Vicenza, Bottega Veneta established itself on the luxury market with products based on three principles, high quality materials, craftsmanship and research. From accessories and ready-to-wear, Bottega Veneta recently moved also onto interior design, applying its principles to pieces of furniture and home accessories.
This year the company, under the creative directorship of Tomas Maier since 2001, developed with Poltrona Frau the Tassello system that also includes chairs and daybeds, modular furniture pieces made with two cushions - inspired by the softness of the Bottega Veneta bags - one forming the seat and the other leaning against a leather-clad metal sheet to form the back.
Other furniture pieces – desks, dressers, night tables and consoles – made using a combination of glass, bronze bands and intrecciato parchment leather, are designed instead with minimalism in mind and give the impression the drawers were floating in space.
The fashion house also developed trunk-inspired pieces of furniture such as a bookcase, or smaller pieces like folding chairs, floor and table leather and metal reading lamps, espresso cups and saucers made in collaboration with German porcelain manufacturer KPM, silver flatware services and a home fragrance.
In which ways does the Tassello system mark a change or a new stepping stone in your collaboration with Frau?
Tomas Maier: For our META collection, also done with Poltrona Frau, the idea was to stretch leather over wood. For Tassello, the aim was for the seating to be soft and slouchy, like a Bottega Veneta bag, but with plump cushions for comfort and support. I worked with Poltrona Frau over the past two years to design every aspect of the new Tassello modular seating group, which has resulted in the creation of two-seater armless sofas, daybeds, corner seating elements, and poufs, all of which have the ability to lock together in a variety of configurations. While it is a challenging design development, it is also a completely organic expansion of the collection.
What inspired the Tassello system structure, the necessity of saving space or a will to experiment further with modular structures?
Tomas Maier: The reality of individual needs and particular spaces. The technical design elements that went into the development of the Tassello system were extremely challenging, yet quite exciting.
Both Bottega Veneta and Poltrona Frau are known for their high craftsmanship standards, in which way will the new pieces somehow reflect the style and quality of the Bottega Veneta creations?
Tomas Maier: Essentially, we must be philosophically aligned with companies we collaborate with, in that both companies share the same commitment to luxury, quality, and exclusivity. I have worked very closely with Poltrona Frau to design seating, each experience has been extremely productive - a true collaboration. That said, all of our products are designed to represent every value Bottega Veneta stands for: outstanding craftsmanship, timeless design, contemporary functionality, and the highest quality materials.
You also designed a range of smaller pieces, including espresso cups and saucers and a home fragrance, is there a product you would like to develop one day to improve our lives?
Tomas Maier: I am not interested in changing someone’s life with the products I design, but want our customers to be able to incorporate Bottega Veneta products from the various catagories into their existing lifestyle and personality.
Do you feel that Milan Design Week has turned in the last few years into an international event that attracts more people than the local fashion week?
Tomas Maier: The Salone is the largest design showcase in the world. With the focus originally being Italian furniture when it began in the early ‘60s, it has grown in size over the years, allowing several thousand companies that make up the global furniture industry to feature their collections during the week long event. It is most definitely an international event that can attract many more people from around the world than during fashion week. It is also quite a different crowd than that of the fashion week.
The Bottega Veneta home collection can be ordered through Bottega Veneta boutiques. New additions to the line will be available for purchase globally from September 2012.
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Naturally the latest and new trends in interior design often come from fashion and that is quite natural as we want to have the latest and the most interesting from the catwalks on our sofas and walls and curtains
Posted by: Architecture Service Gurgaon | May 29, 2012 at 10:11 AM
Interesting. Im pretty sure there'd be lots of tredy stuffs will be released this year.
Posted by: Miya | June 22, 2012 at 11:34 AM
There are now several type of modern furniture that release this days and most of them have unique style and design. And the most exclusive about these furniture they are now dual purpose.
Posted by: Net window sets | September 06, 2012 at 01:11 PM