Sparked by Milan Design Week, some fashion designers flex their creative muscles in the world of interiors, whilst others follow the cartoon collab trend. Elsewhere, proof that a lot of talent can have underwhelming results, and we find an upscale way to celebrate Easter later this week
Jil Sander/Marcel Breuer
She’s been quiet for a few years, but Jil Sander – that’s the ACTUAL Jil, not the brand – popped up at the recent Milan Design Week, unveiling her interpretation of the truly iconic Marcel Breuer S64 chair and its accompanying side table. Famous for her uncompromising and severe design aesthetic as well as her very strict approach to work (she famously left her own company not once but twice due to ‘creative differences’), she worked with furniture producers Thonet to create two lines called Nordic and (more appropriately) Serious. The results are sleek, grown-up and very beautiful. Maybe this is a potentially very successful swan-song career for Ms Sander?
The Row homeware
Just as rarified and equally serious was the launch at the same fair of The Row’s first foray into homeware, at the moment limited to a collection of throws and bedding. Needless to say, this was ushered into Milan with the minimum of fuss and noise – the brand is the absolute go-to for quiet luxury after all – and is both next-level quality and eye-wateringly expensive. Expect natural colours and fabrics that whisper rather than shout: a hand-stitched patchwork bedspread in cashmere was particularly dreamy, though maybe not the sort of thing to let the dog lie on.
Kith x Peanuts
On a much lighter note is the king-of-collabs Kith joining forces with Peanuts cartoons for a celebration of the 75th anniversary of Charles B. Schultz’s much-loved characters. Maybe Snoopy and Woodstock were jealous of all the attention Moomin has been getting over the past months? Unsurprisingly, most of the collection is simple t-shirts featuring the guys, albeit in quite cool ways in terms of scale and graphics, but the interesting pieces are the varsity jackets that are as sporty as they are cute. And if you have your own Snoopy, there’s a dog bowl to be had, too.
Raf Simons x Peter Saville x Kvadrat
We all know that less is more, but sometimes the reverse can be true – something perhaps exemplified by a recent collab between fashion supremo Raf Simons, graphics megastar Peter Saville (he of New Order album covers) and top-notch Danish fabric manufacturers Kvadrat. With three such illustrious collaborators, you think the results would be something a little more exciting than… a grey tote bag. For €400. Sure, the fabric is great quality, and it’s a useful thing to carry stuff to the beach in (if a little gloomy), but it must have taken Mr Saville about 20 seconds to do the label (just a number). Unsurprisingly, the launch is limited to a very few pieces (all to be bought by serious-minded creatives with too much money).
Louis Vuitton Easter Egg
Something else for the rich kids, if you are a little bored of the usual Lindt chocolate bunny, is a seasonal offering from Louis Vuitton. Just in time for this weekend is the special Easter Egg handbag, inspired by one from the 2019 womenswear collection, crafted entirely from chocolate by master patissier Maxime Frédéric. Weighing in at a kilo and indubitably beautifully made, it also costs a hefty €225. If that’s too much, then treat yourself to a case of three small logoed eggs filled with pistachio praline for a mere €40. In either case, do NOT leave them next to a radiator or in sight of chocolate crazy kids.
