by Adam Štěch As the year rolls forward many furniture and lightning brands continue to show an interest in reissuing historical design artifacts of decades past. Large or small, most producers comprising the design market now present some form of forgotten or previously discontinued elements of design. To offer…
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Kartell remasters an iconic chair in tribute to one of furniture’s most innovative Italian designers
To commemorate the life and work of Joe Colombo, Italian design company Kartell has reissued his iconic 4801 chair. Designed in 1965, the 4801 was the first of 12 objects that Colombo created for Kartell until his premature death in 1971. In conjunction with the new release, Kartell is hosting “Homage to Joe Colombo”, an exhibition at the R20th Century gallery in collaboration with the Joe Colombo Archives.
While Colombo’s work ranged from abstract expressionist painting to architecture, he is best remembered for his mass-produced interior design objects. The “Universale” chair—the first seating element to be made entirely of injection-moulded ABS—is still in production, and his landmark designs have been included at the MoMA, the V&A and Centre Pompidou. His designs often incorporate flexibility and modularity, paving the way for contemporary RTA furniture makers.
Due to the technicality of the 4801, Colombo’s design was never produced as intended with ABS. Instead, multiple pieces of pressed plywood were fastened with metal and glue to accommodate the chair’s non-traditional form. Kartell’s reissue utilizes updated manufacturing techniques to realize the production according to the Colombo’s original vision.
The exhibition will feature 10 of the pieces that Colombo designed for Kartell over the years alongside archival photographs of and sketches. Opening today, “Homage to Joe Colombo” runs for two weeks with the 4801 available for $2,790 through Kartell.
A hunting inspired coat re-issued from Eddie Bauer’s archives
New from Eddie Bauer’s Fall line of heritage garments is the Camoweave Forester. The handsome coat pays tribute to its hunting-inspired predecessor first introduced by Eddie Bauer in 1965, using the same superior construction techniques and materials. The unique, shadow plaid pattern is woven into the fabric—rather than printing directly on top—using yarn in 14 different colors, blended together to create the distinct camouflage.
The 11-oz. wool and quilted lining deliver plenty of warmth for those days when your shell won’t do. When it comes to wet weather, it should be noted that the jacket relies only on wool’s natural, but somewhat minimal, water repellence—to preserve the fabric’s purity, the finish was left uncoated and untreated.
For utility, the jacket features four cargo pockets on the front, and a larger, dual-entry field/game pocket on the lower back. This kangaroo pouch style pocket is often found on traditional hunting jackets for extra storage that won’t get in the way.
The Camoweave Forester dropped today at Eddie Bauer online, and follows in select stores in early November. At $399, think of it as an investment.
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