What would a World Design Capital be without its own mono-branded Kartell store?
Kartell, Italian furniture manufacturer, famous for their unique plastic creations opened their first mono-branded store in Cape Town this week. The store which covers 146m2 spread over two levels on the corner of Hudson and Strand streets in the De Waterkant area will showcase designs by Ron Arad, Philippe Starck, Patrick Jouin and other famous designers.
Kartell started manufacturing automobile accessories in 1949, and expanded to furniture and furnishings in 1963. Their retail marketing strategy is based on offering items in a variety of styles and colours at prices which appeal to impulse buyers. The headquarters are in Milan and they gross $100 million per year - That's a lot of impulse...[source].
Kartell can be likened to "Cool to have" brands such as Apple and Camper which Cape Town Style afficionados hunger for. The introduction of the Masters chair, deigned by Philippe Starck with Eugeni Quitllet only added to their popularity, with more than 100 000 having been sold world wide. Starck has also done work for the likes of Puma and Nike.
 |
Starck pays homage to three contemporary design icons and through a fusion of styles creates a "stylistic summation" - the Masters chair. Re-interpreted in a space age key, the Series 7 by Arne Jacobsen, the Tulip Armchair by Eero Saarinen and the Eiffel Chair by Charles Eames weave into a most engaging and sinuous hybrid. Standing on four slim legs, the Masters chair is roomy and comfortable. The back of the chair is its most fascinating feature characterised by the fullnesses and empty spaces created by the curvaceous crisscrossing lines of three different backs which descend to merge into the edge of the seat [source].
The man behind the counter, Kevin De klerk, from A+I Unlimited Design, says that the response so far has been overwhelming. He believes that what sets Kartell apart is the versatility presented by the wide range, and therefore the ability to cater to every taste. A change of colour can quite easily reflect a change of style! And the crucial ingredient - affordability.
The brand, famous for bright colours, has a special affinity for green which is why all Kartell products are recyclable, in fact, all components can be easily separated out and traced back to their single material elements. The plastic parts of each product also bear clear identification markings so that they can be correctly identified for recycling. In 2011 Kartell achieved UNI EN ISO 14001: 2004, a certification which attests that the organization has implemented a management system capable of controlling and minimizing its environmental impact. The certification was the result of Kartell's endeavor to manufacture products which have low environmental impact and are recyclable.
We especially like the Ferruccio Laviani Bourgie table lamp which represents a reference to traditional lighting but with a contemporary twist added by the high-tech material and modern day manufacturing techniques. Made of transparent or batch-dyed polycarbonate, the lampshade has a plissé effect to create maximum reflection and glamour. Available in Black, Chrome, Crystal, Gold, Opaque and White. The unique combination of style and material means that the lamps will adjust comfortably to any interior from contemporary to classic.
You can find them at:
Shop 2, The Hudson, cnr. Strand & Hudson streets, De Waterkant.(t) (021) 4185382, (e)capetown@kartellflag.com, (web) www.kartell.it
No comments:
Post a Comment