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From significant business changes to noteworthy product launches, there's always something new happening across the world of design. In this weekly roundup, AD PRO has everything you need to know.
Business
Alessi Partners Up with English Fund for Backing
Alessi announced today that it has concluded a reorganization and development plan. In a statement released in conjunction with the news, the Italian manufacturer of elevated kitchenware, iconic teakettles, sleek serving pieces, and more, announced that a partnership with English fund Oakley Capital had been concluded on August 28. Oakly is now a minority shareholder, having acquired 40 percent of Alessi's capital. According to the statement, 81 people at the brand have signed voluntary agreements to leave the company.
B&B Italia Set to Get a New CEO
The news about iconic Italian design brands doesn't stop there. On Thursday, B&B Italia's parent company Design Holding announced that Gilberto Negrini will be the luxury furniture company's new chief executive officer. Negrini, the current CEO of Kartell, will begin his new role on October 1. His experience in the design industry is comprehensive, thanks to his roles as sales director at Foscarini and Cassina, as well as his work at Luceplan. Negrini will take the company over after the decades-long tenure of Giorgio Busnelli.
Hunter Douglas Sees the Marketing Light
Hunter Douglas is changing up its advertising strategy, thanks to a brand refresh from Wednesday Agency, a London-based creative firm. The duo's new brand marketing campaign is titled Feel Light Transformed, and is the product of extensive market research. “We recognized the need to identify a more culturally powerful and emotionally relevant role for the brand,” Hunter Douglas senior vice president of corporate marketing Vic Carlson said in a statement. “The research findings made clear that beyond installing window treatments for practical purposes, homeowners place a high value on products that enhance everyday living. The notion of using light not only as a design element but also to enhance one’s mood struck a real chord."
Crypton Companies to Acquire Abercrombie Textiles
It's a textile-eat-textile world—but that isn't necessarily a bad thing. Today, Crypton Companies, a supplier of performance fabric technology, announced plans to acquire North Carolina–based Abercrombie Textiles, a mill with which Crypton has had a licensing partnership for 17 years. “Bringing together an American mill and an American textile innovator will not only preserve jobs but will also create growth and generate new opportunities for American-made textiles,” Lance Keziah, CEO of Crypton, said in a statement. “It will add a key vertical platform to our business that will help Crypton continue to grow and better serve the needs of our expanding customer base.”
Signature Kitchen Suite Tries Something Different
How can a relatively new luxury kitchen appliance company get more industry knowledge? If you're New Jersey–based Signature Kitchen Suite, the answer, it seems, is to start a design council. The 13 members of the council, which the brand announced this week, hail from throughout the country—including Florida, California, Pennsylvania, Washington, Minnesota, and more. The appliance and interior design business leaders who make up the panel will advise the company on trends, product development, and more.
Product Launches
Annie Sloan's New Chalk Paint Is Here to Add History to Homes
This week, British colorist and author Annie Sloan shared word of two additions to her chalk paint collection. Both tones, Athenian Black and Oxford Blue, were inspired by trips to Oxford's Ashmolean Museum, and may find fans among appreciators of classical art history, and anglophiles to boot.
Marika Meyer Takes Sherwin-Williams for a Spin
Looking to find just the right (color) match? Marika Meyer, a D.C.-area interiors company, has curated a palette of Sherwin-Williams paints that pair harmoniously with the firm's own fabric collection—meaning designers and their clients will have one more way to find natural tonal pairings.
Weezie Continues Its Expansion
Weezie, a direct-to-consumer towel company launched in 2018, is continuing to make waves in the soft goods sector. Later this month, the company shared, it will introduce a new Stitched Edge towel collection. "While continuing to maintain a tight focus on quality, we decided to mix things up a bit aesthetically," cofounder and creative director Liz Eichholz tells AD PRO.
Awards
Dezeen Awards' (Rather Long) Shortlist Announced
Dezeen shared the no-so-short short list for its Dezeen Awards this week. In the interiors category, the Retreat at Iceland's Blue Lagoon, the Old Library at the Swedish National Museum for Art and Design, and a handful of new Aesop stores made the cut. In the design category, Raw Edges, Thonet Vienna, and Barber & Osgerby for Vitra were all signaled out.
Harvard Offers to Bring Designers to London for the Fourth Year Running
London's calling: Harvard's Graduate School of Design has opened the fourth iteration of its Richard Rogers Fellowship for applications. The goal of the fellowship is to provide worthy individuals with access to London's various design-focused opportunities. The fellowship includes a three-and-a-half-month stay at the university-owned Wimbledon House, round-trip travel, and an expenses stipend of $10,000.
Lexus Names Judges and Mentors for Its 2020 Design Award
Looking to hear about some design star power? This week, Lexus announced that architect Jeanne Gang, designer John Maeda, and MoMA senior curator of architecture and design Paola Antonelli will all participate in the brand's annual awards as judges. The company also shared the names of the four designers and architects who will serve as mentors to the winners: Bethan Gray, Philippe Malouin, Joe Doucet, and Shohei Shigematsu.
Sales
Knoll's Annual Sale Kicks Off
Midcentury modernism still got your client's tongue? Then be sure to check out Knoll's annual sale, which began this week. The company is offering 15 percent off all products as well as free delivery on all online and in-store purchases.
It's Designer Month at Richard Frinier
Richard Frinier Collections began its 10% sale this week. The industrial and furniture designer's company deal will only be available through September 27, so head to the brand's website soon for deals on streamlined outdoor furniture chairs, chaise lounges, and more.
Openings
David Zwirner Brings Real—and Virtual—Attention to Anni Albers
While textile aficionados and modernists alike may have greeted David Zwirner's new Anni Albers exhibition with eager anticipation this past Tuesday, it's a show that can be experienced regardless of whether you live near New York's Chelsea gallery district or not. An online presentation, organized by the gallery and Albers's foundation, is bringing additional educational information to virtual life. And with prints and rugs ranging from $1,500 to $10,000, there are some very special finds.
In the News
New York Fashion Week Hits Design High Notes
New York Fashion Week may have officially wrapped, but that doesn't mean that its set designs won't continue to inspire. At Marc Jacobs, chairs sourced from flea markets throughout the tristate area made for an eclectic all-white ensemble. Elsewhere, Tory Burch took over a Brooklyn Museum interior courtyard, while Ralph Lauren created an Art Deco mise en scène. Finally, at the oft-talked-about Savage x Fenty show, Rihanna made a structure clearly reminiscent of Rome's famous Square Colosseum just one component of her elaborate backdrop.
Boris Johnson's Brexit Hits Another Snag
Boris Johnson's suspension of Britain's Parliament—a tactic decried by many, which was designed to speed through Brexit—has been dominating the news cycle for a new reason this week. A Scottish court ruled that Johnson's actions were unlawful, on the grounds that he misled the Queen in order to receive her necessary support. While Johnson has denied lying to the Queen, the development only adds to a sense that a No-Deal Brexit is indeed a possibility. U.K. markets appeared to react based on that assumption. Those doing business with British clients and companies are surely following the news closely.
