Dressing the part: Five fashion brands at Salone del Mobile
The teapot receives a makeover, while Miu Miu reintroduces its thriving book club. Also on the agenda: A comfy daybed and homeware from Hermès.
1.
A-Poc Able Issey Miyake x Atelier Oï
Light work
Issey Miyake’s A-Poc Able line aims to experiment with new technologies and craft techniques to highlight “the limitless potential of a piece of cloth”. “[This project could] extend far beyond the realm of clothing,” says designer Yoshiyuki Miyamae. “Fabric holds infinite possibilities.”
It’s why the label is now looking beyond clothing and partnering with Swiss-based architecture studio Atelier Oï. The joint project, dubbed Type-XIII, features two series, which explore the possibilities of dressing lighting features with the house’s signature pleated and knit fabrics. The O Series includes portable lighting wrapped in pleated cloth that gently diffuses light.
Meanwhile, the A Series uses Issey Miyake’s signature seamless knit fabric on lampshades of varying shapes and sizes. “These two series are not merely lighting fixtures,” says Miyamae. “They are objects that invite people to engage with the interplay of light and fabric, creating unique narratives within their spaces.”
isseymiyake.com
2.
Luca Faloni x Winetage
Chairs and graces
Menswear specialist Luca Faloni is joining Salone del Mobile this year in a collaboration with fellow Italian furniture firm Winetage. They have co-designed a chaise longue with oakwood staves from a wine barrel, dressed in Faloni’s signature brushed cotton. “It transforms the space by creating a warm, welcoming environment,” says Faloni. “There’s visual and tactile comfort at the same time.”
lucafaloni.com
3.
Miu Miu Literary Club
Starting a new chapter
Miu Miu has joined the €1bn club. Its sales have been soaring thanks to creative director Miuccia Prada’s witty clothing, smart styling and her ability to tap into the world of culture. Apart from intelligent runway shows, the Italian luxury label has also been investing in the work of female artists. Its ongoing film series, Women’s Tales, has funded the production of 29 films by directors such as Joanna Hogg, Agnès Varda and Ava DuVernay.
Recently, Miu Miu has dipped its toes in the world of literature, with a popular Literary Club and book kiosks popping up in cities including London, Milan and Tokyo. The Literary Club is making a return at the Salone del Mobile. Over two days the brand will host a series of public talks and performances at the Circolo Filologico Milanese. On the agenda? Women’s education, explored through the works of Simone de Beauvoir and Fumiko Enchi.
miumiu.com
4.
Hermès: Collection for the Home
Heart of glass
French luxury house Hermès is taking over La Pelota, in the heart of the Brera design district, to present a new iteration of its popular home range. This year’s collection includes Casaque glasses and extra large blankets, featuring graphic shapes and bold primary colours.
Much like its sought-after leather goods, these new home designs highlight the brand’s dedication to the highest levels of craftsmanship – glasses are mouth-blown, while the circular shapes on the new cashmere blankets are the result of delicate needlework. Art plays a role too: Sudanese artist Amer Musa was invited to oversee the design of the blanket, drawing inspiration from checkers games.
hermes.com
5.
Loewe
Pot luck
Spanish house Loewe is as committed to its yearly presentations at the Salone del Mobile as it is to Paris Fashion Week. In the past it has delighted the design community with exhibitions dedicated to the art of weaving or presentations of one-of-a-kind chairs, giving artists free creative license to reimagine antique chairs (dressing them in wool, strips of leather or even foil) and craft new designs.
This year the house is turning its attention to a smaller design object: the teapot. It has enlisted 25 artists and architects to create their own interpretations through an array of materials, techniques – and plenty of humour.
In signature Loewe fashion, creativity runs high: artists such as Rose Wylie, Akio Niisato and Madoda Fani experimented with exaggerated scales, different glazing finishes and unconventional textures. London-based architect David Chipperfield opted for a copper-clad handle, made in collaboration with ceramic artist Paula Ojea and jewellers Antonio Ibáñez and Josefa Castro. Their aim: to question the conventions around what a teapot should look like. “Spending so much time in cultures where tea-making is important has made me aware of the significance of the teapot as a central and useful object of daily life,” says Chipperfield.
South Korean artist Jane Yang D’Haene decorated her design with frayed ceramic ribbons. “Teapots bring warmth and comfort, often facilitating shared experiences and conversations,” she says. “This aligns with my focus on capturing human emotions and personal history.”
The presentation is accompanied by a selection of Loewe homewares, including Earl Grey tea-scented candles, leather botanical charms and tin-plated tea caddies. “Exhibitions like Loewe Teapots are an important complement to Salone del Mobile,” says Chipperfield. “They invite public participation and elevates the week from an industry gathering to a city-wide celebration of design.”
loewe.com
