Blog

Fashion Houses do Furnishing

We attended this year’s Milan Design Week and weren’t too surprised to see more and more big fashion labels foray into furnishings. Yes fashion houses become fashion for houses with serious, and credible offerings from the likes of Martin Margiela, Moschino, Blumarine and Cavalli as well as the already more established Fendi, Armani and Versace Casa’s. For these luxe names, living the label takes on a whole new meaning.

Maison Martin Margiela embarked on their first ‘Maison’ venture with a series of chairs manufactured by Cerutti Baleri for their Edizioni collection. Whilst Margiela himself may have exited, the creative team have stayed true to the labels unique mystique and avant-garde thinking with the ‘Groupe’ design comprising of three chair shapes and a chaise lounger joined together with a dust-sheet style cover in that familiar bleached cotton-linen fabric.

Taking a turn Eastwards, Bottega Veneta’s creative director Tomas Maier challenged design students from the University of Tokyo to concept a series of products, which succeeded in both reflecting the label’s identity, whilst incorporating Japanese iconography. The results? BV’s signature intrecciato leather handbags resembling traditional Japanese roof tiles and feminine, blushed cedar wood table wear.

Having already conquered lifestyle with their magnificent, fantastical Maison Moschino hotel, the irreverent Italian label presented ‘Bits and Pieces’ – a Gypsy treasure inspired mix of crocheted lamps and seating as well as on-trend quilted tent show pieced assembled from found fabric remnants. You could spot Versace Casa a mile off – high voltage neon hues, neo-baroque thrones and piles of garish ornate quilts.

Just entering the brand new Armani Casa boutique felt well…very Armani and very expensive. You almost didn’t want to touch the highly buffed wooden cabinets, laquered tables and sumptuous upholstery off set with atmospheric low lighting. If you could get past the security guards of the Fendi showroom entrances what you’d find is a lesson in tasteful elegance.