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Since it was founded in 1949, Kartell has become well-known and well-loved for its unique products and commitment to innovation. With a focus on material research and evolving sustainable technological processes, the Italian design company is committed to its manifesto, "Kartell loves the planet". 2023 saw the brand and its associated designers renew this goal towards sustainability with designs that experimented with alternative and recycled materials, and also reinterpretations of classic Kartell designs. STIR enlists some of the many projects that the brand undertook in the past year.
1. People:
In 2023, Kartell collaborated with the Italian designers Ferrucio Laviani and Fabio Novembre) for two eyewear designs, each an interpretation of the iconic aesthetic of bygone eras. Laviani’s Daddy is an ode to the free spirit of the ‘80s and joins the Segmenti collection.
Novembre’s TV K on the other hand, is inspired by the shapes of the mirrors created by Anna Castelli Ferrieri with its generous dimensions. The eyewear will be part of the Shield collection.
2. Pieces:
The HiRay collection debuted at Maison&Objet this year and was designed by Ludovica+Roberto Palomba. The designs are crafted with metal, using a welded wire process to shape each piece. The well-defined yet lightweight pieces of the collection include a chair, chair with arms, bistro table, armchair, divan and side table.
Kartell also debuted a pouffe and sofa design this year. The K-WAIT dormeuse designed by Rodolfo Dordoni and the Asia collection of sofas designed by Piero Lissoni. The “composed” design of the Asia collection with its clean and precise lines contrasts strikingly with the soft contours of the cushions.
The company also added several armchairs to their extensive catalogue. These included the P/wood with wheels, which is characterised by a sleek, wooden finish and a rotating frame. The catalogue also added the C.KOYA stools to their offerings.
Three chair designs using the Rubelli Quatrefoil® fabrics designed by Luke Edward Hall were added. The Clap chair was enhanced with an interlocking pattern of geometric footprints by Patricia Urquiola. The Madame and Mademoiselle chairs were updated by Phillipe Starck with the Rubelli Quatrefoil® fabrics giving them a new and unexpected look. Philippe Starck also debuted the Eleganza Missoni chair in two versions: NIA and ELA.
Two new table designs also marked Kartell’s 2023. The S/Wood table is part of the Smart Wood collection. The Glossy table collection, designed by Antonio Citterio is available in a range of combinations: from square, oval to round versions.
Adding to the versatile brand’s home furnishings range was a set of rugs designed by Patricia Urquiola, Parays. She also designed the Okra vases for Kartell, which are made of recycled plastic material.
Two new lamp designs, the Angelo Stone and the Teresa were added to the collection.
The Angelo Stone’s unique design gets its light source not from above but from an LED positioned on the stem that illuminates the cap.
The Italian brand, well-known for its eyewear introduced a range of new designs in the past year. The Lamina series was expanded with a new look that featured two different but harmonious silhouettes merging to create a third one. Four configurations were added: Cateye, Crazy, Squared, and Showpiece.
The Robusta and Squame series were expanded with new designs. The bold, sculpted, and colourful frames of the Robusta collection were expanded to include a Round and Square design.
Similarly, the Squame collection, which reinterprets horn and tortoiseshell in its frame introduced Round and Square variations. Other eyewear designs added in 2023 included the Eyeliner Rondò, designed by Piero Lissoni, and the K-Sun eyeglasses by Rodolfo Dordoni.
3. Places:
Kartell marked 2023 with a new flagship store in New York City. As Lorenza Luti, Kartell’s marketing and retail director noted about the occasion, “This venue allows us to present a more comprehensive and immersive experience of Kartell, offering our new idea of lifestyle to retail customers, as well as architects and industry professionals…The new locations’ architecture is better suited to showcase the wide range of new furniture and lighting designs.” The 399.48 sqm store spans two floors of a historic 1920s building.
In September, the brand redesigned its Paris) flagship store for Maison&Objet 2023. Designed to become a greenhouse of outdoor living ideas, the design fair also marked the debut of the new HiRay collection by Ludovica+Roberto Palomba . Other collections and pieces designed by Piero Lissoni, Philippe Starck, Antonio Citterio, Ferruccio Laviani, and Fabio Novembre were also on display.
In a similar vein, Kartell transformed their Milan flagship store for Salone del Mobile 2023. Taking inspiration from Ferruccio Laviani’s lamp Bourgie, a Kartell classic, Bourgiemania converted the store into an art gallery for the design event.
Events to remember:
To cap off the year, the Philippe Starck-designed Eleganza chair was awarded the prestigious Red Dot 'Best of the Best' award.
STIRred 2023 wraps up the year with compilations of the best in architecture, art, and design from STIR. Did your favourites make the list? Tell us in the comments!
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